High-spatial-resolution multistation MR angiography with parallel imaging and blood pool contrast agent: initial experience

The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of reader detection of 75% or greater stenosis at high-spatial-resolution multistation magnetic resonance (MR) angiography performed with matrix coils and a blood pool contrast agent. Ten healthy volunteers and 10 patients were examined. All participants provided informed consent to participate in this institutional review board-approved study. For contrast agent-enhanced multistation MR angiography, an albumin-binding gadolinium chelate, gadofosveset trisodium, was used. Imaging was performed during the first-pass and steady-state phases of the contrast agent. Vessel conspicuity on the first-pass MR angiograms obtained in both volunteers and patients was rated as excellent for 93% of vessels. At steady-state imaging, vessel conspicuity was rated as excellent or good for 89% of vessels. Gadofosveset trisodium-enhanced MR angiography yielded sensitivities of 100% and 97% and specificities of 96% and 97% for detection of significant disease in the carotid and lower extremity arteries, respectively.