Value of image subtraction in 3D gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography of the renal arteries

The objective of this study was to evaluate quantitatively and qualitatively the effect of image subtraction on the image quality of three-dimensional (3D) gadolinium-enhanced MR angiograms of the renal arteries. Breath-hold 3D gadolinium MR angiography (MRA) as well as conventional contrast angiography of the renal arteries was performed on 20 patients with suspected renovascular hypertension. MR angiograms were acquired before and during dynamic infusion of gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA). Contrast-enhanced images were compared with images that had undergone voxel-by-voxel signal intensity subtraction of contrast-enhanced data from precontrast data. One false positive finding for significant renal artery stenosis was recorded with MRA using conventional angiography as the gold standard. Image subtraction did not alter the diagnosis at MRA in any case. The mean contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was significantly higher (P < .05) on the subtraction MR angiograms compared to the nonsubtracted MR angiograms. There was no significant difference in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Qualitative analysis revealed a significant improvement in image quality after image subtraction with respect to visualization of the distal renal arteries. In conclusion, image subtraction improves the quality of renal MRA in terms of both CNR and visualization of the distal renal arteries.     

Coronary MR angiography during peak-systole: Work in Progress

The purpose of this study is to compare the quality of images of coronary arteries obtained with two-dimensional breath-hold coronary MR angiography during peak systole and mid diastole. Two-dimensional coronary MR angiography was performed in eight normal volunteers at peak systole and in mid diastole with a commercial 1.5-T MR imager. An ultrafast gradient-echo sequence with incremented flip angle series and k-space segmentation was used. The image quality grade, length, and proximal diameter of each visualized coronary artery were measured. The highest quality images in systole and diastole were compared. Coronary MR angiography provided high quality images in systole and diastole in 14 of 16 coronary vessels (87.5%). In 8 of 14 vessels (57%), there was no visible coronary MR angiogram image degradation when comparing peak systolic with mid-diastolic images. In 4 of 14 vessels (29%), there was mild MR image degradation. There was significant MR image degradation in only one case (7%). And in one case (7%), there was mild image improvement during systole. The width and length of the visualized coronary vessels did not change significantly from diastole to systole. Existing two-dimensional breath-hold coronary MR angiography provides MR images during peak systole and mid-diastole with little or no perceptible difference in quality.     

Two-dimensional multishot echo-planar coronary MR angiography

This work presents a two-dimensional (2D) multishot echo-planar imaging (EPI) technique for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of individual coronary arteries in a 17-heart-beat breath-hold. Conventional 2D and 3D segmented gradient-echo (GRE) coronary MRA requires repetitive excitation of the same slice or slab within each cardiac cycle, which can result in reduced blood signal and in motion artifacts. Two-dimensional multishot EPI can address these limitations by eliminating multiple excitations per cardiac cycle, using large flip-angle excitations, markedly reducing the data acquisition window, and performing oblique multislice 2D imaging. The goal of this study was to assess the feasibility of breath-hold 20 multishot EPI for multislice coronary MRA and to demonstrate its reliability by consistently acquiring high-quality images of the coronary arteries in a series of 16 volunteers.     

MR characterization of blood flow in native and grafted internal mammary arteries

In the postoperative patient with anginal symptoms, differentiation between bypass graft compromise and nonischemic causes has until now been accomplished only by means of x-ray angiography. A noninvasive test is clearly desirable. The authors used a cine phase-contrast (PC) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique to characterize blood flow in native and grafted internal mammary arteries (IMAs). Ten volunteers and 15 patients who had recently undergone IMA coronary artery bypass grafting were imaged. Cine PC MR imaging was performed in the transaxial plane at the level of the pulmonary artery bifurcation. Flow in both IMAs was quantified and expressed as a percentage of cardiac output measured in the ascending aorta. In the 15 patients, flow analysis was performed in both the native and grafted IMAs. In the volunteers, IMA blood flow ranged from 2.1% to 4.3% of cardiac output on the left (mean, 3.5%) and 2.1% to 5.1% (mean, 3.5%) on the right. There was considerable intersubject variability, with coefficients of variation of 10.7% for the left and 12.3% for the right IMA. Intrasubject variability was limited, with estimated common standard deviations of 0.45% of cardiac output (range, 0.2%–1.1%) for the left and 0.39% (range, 0.1%–0.6%) for the right IMA. Flow in grafted IMAs was identified in 13 of 15 patients. In one of two patients without demonstrable IMA graft flow, cardiac catheterization confirmed lack of flow. IMA graft flow varied from 28 to 164 mL/min (mean, 80.3 mL/min). This study shows the feasibility of using cine PC MR imaging as a quantitative method of evaluating blood flow in IMA coronary artery bypass grafts.     

Three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography using selective inversion recovery RAGE with fat saturation and ECG-triggering: Application to renal arteries

A three-dimensional (3D), ECG-triggered, selective inversion recovery (SIR) rapid gradient-echo (RAGE) technique is proposed to obtain MR angiograms of the main renal arteries. By using the selective inversion recovery and fat saturation, the background is significantly suppressed while blood maintains a high signal intensity as compared with conventional 3D time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography. The sequence is ECG-triggered so that blood in-flow is maximized during systole, and intravoxel dephasing and pulsatile flow artifacts are minimized by collecting data during diastole. As a result, vessel boundary blurring and ghosting artifacts due to background motion are dramatically reduced, and the conspicuity and lumen definition of the arteries are significantly improved. High-quality MR angiograms of the main renal arteries with excellent blood/tissue contrast and suppression of motion artifacts have been consistently obtained for normal volunteers, with the length of visualization being 51 ± 07 mm for the left, and 57 ± 06 mm for the right renal arteries, significantly greater than using conventional 3D TOF pulse sequences. Statistical analysis was performed by using a one-sided Student's t test. Key words: renal artery; MR angiography; three-dimensional MR imaging.     

16排40层螺旋CT冠状动脉血管造影的应用技术探讨简

目的：探讨16排40层螺旋CT冠状动脉血管造影的应用技术。方法使用东芝公司16排螺旋CT进行冠状动脉血管成像检查,采用多平面重建（MPR）、最大密度投影（MIP）、曲面重建（CPR）和容积再现技术（VR）进行图像后处理,可清晰显示冠状动脉主干及主要分支。结果心率平稳为53~66次/min,冠状动脉节段图像质量可准确地显示冠状动脉通畅情况及管壁病变。心率＞68次/min时,冠状动脉的主要分支显示不规整。结论16排CT冠状动脉成像可比较准确诊断冠状动脉病变,具有较高的临床应用价值。     

Pitfall for systemic artery aneurysms evaluation using electrocardiogram-gated subtracted three-dimensional fast spin echo sequence of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) is described as a syndrome that causes both coronary and systemic artery aneurysms (SAAs). This report describes the pitfall for SAAs’ evaluation when using electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated subtracted three-dimensional fast spin echo (3D FSE) sequence of magnetic resonance imaging in KD patients. A 12-year-old male was diagnosed with KD at 3 months of age. We acquired ECG-gated 3D FSE images in the diastole and systole phases with coronal sections. Subtraction was then performed from diastolic phase imaging to systolic phase imaging. A 15.5 mm right axillary artery aneurysm and an 8.0 mm left axillary artery aneurysm were identified with ECG-gated 3D FSE in the diastolic phase. However, we observed signal loss in the right axillary artery aneurysm when subtraction was performed to selectively detect arteries; further, the brachial artery was poorly detected. ECG-gated subtracted 3D FSE sequence of magnetic resonance imaging can compromise the image quality of both aneurysm and peripheral artery images when detecting SAAs.     

颈动脉和椎基底动脉16层螺旋CT减影成像的应用价值

目的:探讨颈动脉和椎基底动脉CTA减影技术的临床应用价值。方法:对43例患者行颈动脉和椎基底动脉CTA检查,原始数据在工作站进行减影和三维图像后处理。图像由2名观察者对颈动脉和椎基底动脉的显影情况进行评分,数据应用SPSS11.0进行统计学分析。结果:减影和非减影的颈动脉和椎基底动脉图像的观察评分有显著性差异。CTA减影血管重建后的图像质量优良,在显示颈动脉和椎基底动脉的完整性方面明显优于常规CTA血管重建。减影图像对于显示管壁钙化效果欠佳,需结合平扫和非减影图像进行钙化斑块评估。结论:CTA减影成像技术改善了对颈动脉和椎基底动脉复杂解剖及异常管壁结构的显示,结合非减影图像,可为临床提供更加丰富的诊断信息。     

Three-dimensional coronary magnetic resonance angiography with injection of extracellular contrast medium.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate serial changes of the signal intensity and the contrast-to-noise ratios of the coronary arteries on three-dimensional (3D) coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) after an injection of extracellular contrast medium, and to demonstrate the feasibility of this method for the diagnosis of coronary artery abnormalities. METHODS: Five healthy volunteers and two patients with Kawasaki disease and an anomalous coronary artery were studied. Coronary MRAs of the left anterior descending artery and the right coronary artery were obtained using a fat-suppressed 3D MRA sequence before and 0 to 5, 10 to 15, 20 to 25, and 30 to 35 minutes after administration of Gd-DTPA-BMA. RESULTS: Administration of the contrast agent provided a significant increase in the signal intensity and contrast-to-noise ratio. Aneurysm of the left anterior descending artery in Kawasaki disease and the proximal course of the anomalous right coronary artery, which were not well depicted on precontrast 3D MRA, were clearly demonstrated after contrast injection. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrated that the use of an extracellular gadolinium contrast agent can significantly improve the clinical usefulness of 3D coronary MRA.     

多层螺旋CT评价先天性单冠状动脉畸形

目的 探讨16层螺旋CT（MSCT）冠状动脉造影诊断先天性单冠状动脉畸形的价值。资料与方法 回顾性分析4例先天性单冠状动脉患者的MSCT和常规X线冠状动脉造影（CCA）资料。对比两者在显示和诊断此病中的差异。仿真内镜技术用于评价异位开口及其与邻近正常冠状动脉开口的关系,多平面重建、曲面多平面重建、最大密度投影、容积成像等重建方法则用于评价变异冠状动脉的行径及其与邻近大血管的关系。结果 4例患者变异的冠状动脉全部为MSCT造影所显示并明确诊断。MSCT显示3例患者的左主干起源于右冠状动脉的近段,其中1例在CCA中左主干仅近段局部显影,未能明确诊断,另2例左冠状动脉虽显影,但较淡。1例右冠状动脉起源于左主干的末端,CCA则误为起源于回旋支。MSCT显示2例异常开口冠状动脉的近段狭窄,3支异常冠状动脉穿过主动脉根部和肺动脉或右室流出道的间隙,1支绕主动脉根部后方走行,而CCA均不能明确诊断。结论 MSCT显示先天性单冠状动脉明显优于CCA,凡疑及冠状动脉变异的患者,可首选非创伤性的MSCT冠状动脉造影检查。     

双源CT对先天性心脏病儿童冠状动脉成像效果分析

目的 分析儿童先天性心脏病双源CT(DSCT)扫描对冠状动脉显示的效果.方法 2名放射科医师分别对儿童先天性心脏病DSCT扫描的图像评分,按冠状动脉各分支成像效果评为1～4分,3分以上为成像质量较好,可以用于诊断.采用方差分析比较3个心率水平、3个年龄段下冠状动脉评分差异及4支冠状动脉分支间评分差异.采用多元线性回归分析比较各支冠状动脉评分与年龄、心率、管电压、管电流、螺距、对比剂总量、对比剂流率的关系.结果 共评价72例患儿(平均1.5岁),71.2%(205/288)的冠状动脉分支图像质量较好,可以用于诊断.左主干(3.64±0.49)分、前降支(2.97±0.40)分、右冠状动脉(2.82±0.70)分、回旋支(2.76±0.73)分,各支评分依次降低而不完全相同(F=29.00,P<0.01).<1岁组(2.80±0.65)分、≥1～3岁组(2.81±0.74)分、>3～14岁组(3.58±0.52)分,各组评分依次升高而不完全相同(F=20.16,P<0.01).心率<100次/min(bpm)组(3.54±0.56)分,100～150 bpm组(2.86±0.70)分,>150 bpm组(2.81±0.63)分,各组评分依次降低而不完全相同(F=16.72,P<0.01).多元回归分析显示年龄(r=0.013,P<0.01)和对比剂总量(r=0.292,P=0.011)与左主干评分呈正相关;年龄(r=0.509,P<0.01)、管电压与前降支评分呈正相关(r=0.292,P<0.01),心率与前降支评分呈负相关(r=-0.179,P<0.05);年龄与回旋支评分呈负相关(r=0.063,P<0.01);年龄、管电压与右冠状动脉评分呈正相关(r值分别为0.486、0.220,P值分别<0.01、<0.05).结论 DSCT能够清晰显示3岁以上或心率<100 bpm的先天性心脏病儿童的冠状动脉,限制DSCT成像效果的是患儿的基础心律和年龄.     

256层螺旋CT低剂量心脑血管联合成像初步研究

目的 初步探讨256层螺旋CT前瞻性心电门控心脑血管联合成像的图像质量与辐射剂量.方法 回顾性分析57例患者CTA资料.组1:心脑血管联合CTA(n=17),应用大范围前瞻性心电门控行冠状动脉、颈动脉及脑血管一站式扫描;组2:冠状动脉CTA(n=20):前瞻性心电门控行常规冠状动脉成像;组3:常规颈脑血管CTA(n =20).分别测量各组升主动脉根部、双侧颈总动脉起始部、椎动脉起始部、颈内动脉(蝶鞍层面)图像CT值与图像噪声;采用4分法评估冠状动脉图像质量,3分法评估颈脑血管图像质量;分别计算各组的辐射剂量.采用t检验比较组间的图像CT值与噪声;采用Mann-Whitney U检验比较组1与组2冠状动脉图像质量及组1与组3颈脑血管图像质量.结果 组1与组2升主动脉根部CT值[分别为(427±50)、(426±86) HU]、噪声[分别为(30±9)、(31±9)HU]差异均无统计学意义(t值分别为0.058、-0.325,P值均＞0.05);冠状动脉图像质量评分组1与组2均满足诊断需要冠状动脉节段,优良分别达到98.1％( 202/206)、99.6％(244/245);两组间图像质量比较差异无统计学意义(Z=- 0.572,P＞0.05).组1与组3颈总动脉起始部CT值[分别为(474±70)、(348±81)HU]、椎动脉起始部CT值[分别为(447±83)、(328±66) HU]差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为5.043、4.869,P值均＜0.05);颈内动脉(蝶鞍层面)CT值[分别为(370±92)、(367±97)HU]两组比较差异无统计学意义(t=0.111,P＞0.05).组1颈脑血管图像质量评分1分1例,2分14例,3分2例;组3颈脑血管图像质量评分2分7例,3分13例;两组图像质量评分比较差异有统计学意义(Z=-3.306,P＜0.05).组1、组2、组3有效辐射剂量分别为(7.0±0.8)、(3.1±0.4)、(5.0±0.3) mSv.结论 256层螺旋CT大范围前瞻性心电门控心脑血管联合成像可获得满足临床诊断需要的冠状动脉、颈动脉及脑血管图像质量,具有简便、快捷、无创、对比剂使用少、辐射剂量低、客观和重复性强的优势,是一种全新的评估冠状动脉与颈脑血管的良好方法.     

Shaping the signal response during the approach to steady state in three-dimensional magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo imaging using variable flip angles.

A theoretical algorithm for shaping the signal response during the approach to steady state in three-dimensional magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo (3D MP-RAGE) pulse sequences has been developed and implemented. This algorithm derives the flip angle series required to produce specifically chosen time evolutions of the signal intensities during the data acquisition segment of 3D MP-RAGE sequences. Theoretical predictions for the cases of unshaped, uniform, and mono-exponential decay signal responses were quantitatively validated with a doped-water phantom on a 1.5-T whole-body imager and in all cases there was excellent agreement between the theoretical and experimental values. The effects of RF inhomogeneities and eddy currents on the signal response shaping were also investigated. To demonstrate the potential utility of the technique, the signal response shaping algorithm was applied to a T1-weighted 3D MP-RAGE sequence to derive the acquisition flip angle series which theoretically yields the maximum white matter/gray matter signal difference (WGSD) consistent with the chosen response shape. Images obtained from a healthy volunteer using this variable flip angle sequence were compared with 3D RF-spoiled steady-state gradient-echo images obtained in the same total imaging time. The 3D MP-RAGE images demonstrated a 41% increase in the WGSD-to-noise ratio. These initial very promising results indicate that with further refinement to eliminate some intensity artifacts, the variable flip angle 3D MP-RAGE technique may, with respect to certain image properties, provide considerable improvements over currently available 3D gradient-echo imaging techniques.     

256层CT心电前置门控及回顾门控冠状动脉成像质量及辐射剂量比较

目的 比较256层CT前置门控冠状动脉CTA与回顾门控检查方法的成像质量及辐射剂量,探讨256层CT前置门控冠状动脉扫描方法的临床应用价值及局限性.方法 回顾分析177例冠状动脉256层CTA检查患者,其中前置门控86例,回顾门控91例.将冠状动脉主要分支分为9个节段评价,采用4分法评价图像质量,≥3分为可评价节段.采用t检验比较两种方法组可评价节段的百分比、患者的有效辐射剂量及图像噪声.结果 前置门控组86例中98.8%节段(765/774)为可评价节段.回顾门控组91例中99.6%节段(816/819)可评价.2组图像质量差异有统计学意义(t=2.51,P=0.01).心率<75次/min时,前置门控与回顾门控组的可评价节段分别为99.8%(647/648),99.7%(718/720),图像质量的差异无统计学意义(t=1.90,P>0.05).≥75次/min时,2组的可评价节段分别为93.6%(118/126)和99.0%(98/99).2组的可评价率差异有统计学意义(t=3.57,P<0.05).前置门控组及回顾门控组的有效辐射剂量分别为(4.4±0.5)和(10.3±1.5)mSv(t=33.4,P<0.00),前置门控扫描的剂量明显小于回顾门控扫描,下降幅度达60.0%.结论 256层CT前置门控冠状动脉扫描方法较回顾门控方法剂量显著降低,两种扫描方法得到的图像质量均较好.在低心率组图像质量两种方法相近,而高心率组前置门控较回顾门控法有差距.     

Noncontrast MR angiography for supraaortic arteries using inflow enhanced inversion recovery fast spin echo imaging

Purpose:

To depict supraaortic arteries using (3D fast spin echo (FSE) combined with slab selective inversion recovery for noncontrast magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in healthy volunteers, and to investigate the property of the inflow enhanced inversion recovery FSE (IFIR‐FSE) for background suppression and inflow effects.

Materials and Methods:

IFIR‐FSE with no image subtraction was used to visualize the aortic arch, subclavian arteries, carotid arteries, and vertebral arteries in 10 healthy volunteers. Simulations were performed to achieve both high background suppression and inflow effects by adjusting the inversion time (TI) and wait time after data acquisition. The effect of inflow was investigated with TIs of 800, 1200, 1600, and 2000 msec. Contrast between artery and these background tissues were measured with scan protocols based on simulation results.

Results:

IFIR‐FSE images showed good visualization of the supraaortic arteries and allowed separation of arteries from veins without image subtraction. The proposed method demonstrated that a high contrast between arteries and background tissues can be acquired with various TIs, which was in good agreement with the simulation. A TI over 1600 msec was favorable in terms of background suppression, arterial signal intensity, and inflow effects.

Conclusion:

Inflow enhanced inversion recovery cardiac‐triggered 3D FSE imaging can be used for supraaortic artery imaging without contrast agents. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;35:957–962. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Proximal coronary artery stenosis: Three-dimensional MRI with fat saturation and navigator echo

The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic value of MR angiography (MRA) with conventional contrast angiography in coronary artery disease. Thirty-five patients underwent MRA and coronary angiography within 4 hours. Of these, three patients were investigated twice: once before and once after balloon angioplasty. The pulse sequence was a cardiac-triggered, single-slab, three-dimensional gradient-echo sequence, employing a spin-echo navigator echo measurement to track the variation of the diaphragm during the scan. The following segments of the coronary arteries were included in this prospective study: left main coronary artery, proximal and middle left anterior descending, proximal and middle left circumflex, proximal and middle right coronary artery, and intermediate branch, if present. In total, 176 segments were classified as normal or having a stenosis of less than 50% and as having a stenosis of more than 50%. Five patients were excluded because of lack of cooperation. Over all, 45 of 54 stenoses were detected and interpretable by MRA. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of MRA for detecting significant stenoses were 83%, 94%, 87%, and 93%, respectively. MRA identified significant stenoses within the major coronary arteries with a high degree of accuracy. Sensitivity and specificity are higher compared with exercise tests or scintigraphy or top of the precise localization.     

Study on motion artifacts in coronary arteries with an anthropomorphic moving heart phantom on an ECG-gated multidetector computed tomography unit

Acquisition time plays a key role in the quality of cardiac multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and is directly related to the rotation time of the scanner. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of heart rate and a multisector reconstruction algorithm on the image quality of coronary arteries of an anthropomorphic adjustable moving heart phantom on an ECG-gated MDCT unit. The heart phantom and a coronary artery phantom were used on a MDCT unit with a rotation time of 500 ms. The movement of the heart was determined by analysis of the images taken at different phases. The results indicate that the movement of the coronary arteries on the heart phantom is comparable to that in a clinical setting. The influence of the heart rate on image quality and artifacts was determined by analysis of several heart rates between 40 and 80 bpm where the movement of the heart was synchronized using a retrospective ECG-gated acquisition protocol. The resulting reformatted volume rendering images of the moving heart and the coronary arteries were qualitatively compared as a result of the heart rate. The evaluation was performed on three independent series by two independent radiologists for the image quality of the coronary arteries and the presence of artifacts. The evaluation shows that at heart rates above 50 bpm the influence of motion artifacts in the coronary arteries becomes apparent. In addition the influence of a dedicated multisector reconstruction technique on image quality was determined. The results show that the image quality of the coronary arteries is not only related to the heart rate and that the influence of the multisector reconstruction technique becomes significant above 70 bpm. Therefore, this study proves that from the actual acquisition time per heart cycle one cannot determine an actual acquisition time, but only a mathematical acquisition time.     

Multislice CT imaging of anomalous coronary arteries

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of 16 multislice computed tomography (MSCT) to identify the origin of anomalous coronary arteries and to confirm their anatomic course in relation to the great vessels. Accuracy of coronary artery disease (CAD) detection was a secondary aim and was tested with conventional angiograms (CA) serving as standard of reference. Two hundred and forty-two consecutive patients referred for noninvasive coronary CT imaging were reviewed for the study. Sixteen patients (6.6%) with anomalous coronary arteries were detected and included as the study group. MSCT and CA images were analyzed in a blinded fashion for accuracy of anomalous artery origin and path detection. Results were compared in a secondary consensus evaluation. Accuracy ratios to detect CAD with MSCT in all vessels were calculated. Coronary anomalies for all 16 patients were correctly displayed on MSCT. CA alone achieved correct identification of the abnormality in only 53% (P=0.016). Sensitivity and specificity of MSCT to detect significantly stenosed vessels was 90 and 92%. 16-MSCT is accurate to delineate abnormally branching coronary arteries and allows sufficiently accurate detection of obstructive coronary artery disease in distal branches. It should therefore be considered as a prime non-invasive imaging tool for suspected coronary anomalies.     

Minidose技术在双源CT心脏扫描中的初步应用

目的：探讨Minidose技术在双源CT（DSCT）冠状动脉成像及左心室功能分析中的应用价值。方法：45例临床怀疑为冠状动脉心脏病的患者行DSCT冠状动脉成像和超声心动图左心室功能检查。DSCT采用序列扫描模式,总扫描时间窗35％～95％R—R间期,其中40％～70％R-R间期时为全电流输出,数据用于冠状动脉重建,其余间期使用全电流的20％输出,数据用于左心室功能分析。依据美国心脏协会冠状动脉分法,将冠脉图像分为16段,并采用4级法对每段图像质量进行评估。将DSCT检查时测量的左心室射血分数值（LVEF）,并与超声心动图所测得的LVEF值为对照进行统计学分析。结果：40例患者顺利完成DscT冠状动脉成像及超声心动图左心室功能分析。共评价冠状动脉525段,其中可用于诊断的节段占97．53％（512／525）,平均辐射剂量为（3．75±0．89）mSv。DSCT与超声心动图所测得的LVEF值差异无统计学意义（t=-1．61,P=0．12〉0．05）,且两者相关性好（r=0．68）。结论：Minidose技术可以用于DSCT冠状动脉成像兼顾左心室功能分析的“一站式”扫描,冠状动脉图像质量较好,左心室功能分析结果可靠,平均辐射剂量低。     

Two-dimensional coronary MRA: limitations and artifacts

Our purpose was to assess image quality and interpretation problems of two-dimensional (2D) coronary MR angiograms. The coronary arteries of 27 subjects (12 normal volunteers and 15 patients) were evaluated with 2D coronary MR angiography (MRA). Coronary MRA was performed with a fat-suppressed electrocardiographically gated breath-hold gradient-echo sequence with k-space segmentation using a 1.5-T imager. Image quality throughout the study was occasionally degraded by: image ghosting (22%), ringing (19%), and/or blurring (22%) and incomplete fat-suppression (19%). Intermittent difficulties with breathholding were encountered in 44% of subjects. When limiting the analysis to those images with optimal image quality, interpretative difficulties were sometimes found: misregistration due to inconsistent breathholding (37%); difficulty in distinguishing veins from arteries (37%); obscured anatomy due to overlapping structures (26%); and poor visualization of portions of the left main coronary artery (59%). Two-dimensional coronary MRA studies have image quality and interpretive problems which need to be understood and addressed before routine clinical scanning is initiated.Correspondence to: A. J. Duerinckx