Measurement of common carotid artery lumen dynamics during the cardiac cycle using magnetic resonance TrueFISP cine imaging

Purpose

To demonstrate magnetic resonance (MR) measurements of vascular lumen dynamics in common carotid arteries by using true fast imaging with steady‐state precession (TrueFISP) cine imaging with an aim to provide additional physiologic information on the vessels.

Materials and Methods

The left and right common carotid arteries were studied in normal young men (N = 6; age = 21–24 years; body weight = 130–175 lbs) using electrocardiogram (ECG)‐triggered TrueFISP cine imaging at 20 frames per cardiac cycle. Lumen area waveforms were characterized with specific time and amplitude ratios. Distension values were quantified.

Results

Distension values were measured at 25.92 ± 2.58% and 27.58 ± 4.44% for the left and right common carotid arteries, respectively. These findings are consistent with those previously documented using ultrasound imaging in a similar age group. Consistent lumen area waveform characteristics were found among the subjects studied.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate for the first time that the use of TrueFISP cine imaging is a robust, rapid technique for quantifying carotid lumen area dynamics and distension, which may be valuable in characterizing and diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:1527–1532. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.