Technical assessment of whole body angiography and cardiac function within a single MRI examination

Abstract

Aim

To evaluate a combined protocol for simultaneous cardiac MRI (CMR) and contrast-enhanced (CE) whole-body MR angiography (WB-MRA) techniques within a single examination.

Materials and methods

Asymptomatic volunteers ( n = 48) with low-moderate risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) were recruited. The protocol was divided into four sections: (1) CMR of left ventricle (LV) structure and function; (2) CE-MRA of the head, neck, and thorax followed by the distal lower limbs; (3) CMR LV “late gadolinium enhancement” assessment; and (4) CE-MRA of the abdomen and pelvis followed by the proximal lower limbs. Multiple observers undertook the image analysis.

Results

For CMR, the mean ejection fraction (EF) was 67.3 ± 4.8% and mean left ventricular mass (LVM) was 100.3 ± 22.8 g. The intra-observer repeatability for EF ranged from 2.1–4.7% and from 9–12 g for LVM. Interobserver repeatability was 8.1% for EF and 19.1 g for LVM. No LV delayed myocardial enhancement was observed. For WB-MRA, some degree of luminal narrowing or stenosis was seen at 3.6% of the vessel segments (involving n = 29 of 48 volunteers) and interobserver radiological opinion was consistent in 96.7% of 1488 vessel segments assessed.

Conclusion

Combined assessment of WB-MRA and CMR can be undertaken within a single examination on a clinical MRI system. The associated analysis techniques are repeatable and may be suitable for larger-scale cardiovascular MRI studies.

Highlights

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  We report the use of whole body MR angiography and cardiac MR as a single examination.

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  Healthy volunteers with elevated cardiovascular disease risk were scanned.

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  Vessel segments and cardiac function were assessed by Radiologists and Physicists respectively.

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  The protocol took an average of 51 minutes to complete, and analyses were repeatable.

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  This combined cardiovascular MRI protocol will be used for better targeting of future interventions.