Commentary: Magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing vascular pathology

Non-invasive cross-sectional imaging techniques play a crucial role in the assessment of the varied manifestations of vascular disease. Vascular imaging encompasses a wide variety of pathology. Designing vascular imaging protocols can be challenging owing to the non-uniform velocity of blood in the aorta, differences in cardiac output between patients, and the effect of different disease states on blood flow. In this review, we provide the rationale behind—and a practical guide to—designing and implementing straightforward vascular computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols. Teaching Points • There is a wide range of vascular pathologies requiring bespoke imaging protocols. • Variations in cardiac output and non-uniform blood velocity complicate vascular imaging. • Contrast media dose, injection rate and duration affect arterial enhancement in CTA. • Iterative CT reconstruction can improve image quality and reduce radiation dose. • MRA is of particular value when imaging small arteries and venous studies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s13244-018-0597-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorised users.

Abstract Acute aortic syndromes comprise a group of potentially fatal conditions that result from weakening of the aortic vessel wall. Pre-emptive surgical intervention is currently reserved for patients with severe aortic dilatation, although abundant evidence describes the occurrence of dissection and rupture in aortas with diameters below surgical thresholds. Modern imaging techniques (such as hybrid PET-CT and 4D flow MRI) afford the non-invasive assessment of anatomic, hemodynamic, and molecular features of the aorta, and may provide for a more accurate selection of patients who will benefit from preventative surgical intervention. In the current review, we summarize evidence and considerations regarding predictive aortic imaging and highlight evolving imaging modalities that have shown promise to improve risk assessment for the occurrence of dissection and rupture. Key Points • Guidelines for the preventative management of aortic disease depend on maximal vessel diameters, while these have shown to be poor predictors for the occurrence of catastrophic acute aortic events. • Evolving imaging modalities (such as 4D flow MRI and hybrid PET-CT) afford a more comprehensive insight into anatomic, hemodynamic, and molecular features of the aorta and have shown promise to detect vessel wall instability at an early stage.