First clinical results of ultrafast, gadolinium-enhanced dual-phase 3D MR-angiography in the abdomen.

Purpose: To assess the utility of breath-hold abdominal ultrafast three-dimensional (3D) gadolinium-enhanced dual-phase magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Material and methods: 125 patients with various abdominal pathologies were imaged using a breath-hold ultrafast gadolinium-enhanced dual-phase 3D-MRA technique. Results: 119 (95%) of 125 MRA's were of good or excellent quality. The sensitivity in the detection of renal artery stenoses as well as stenoses of the celiac trunk and the superior mesenteric artery was 100%. Accessary renal arteries (n=9) and replaced hepatic arteries (n=4) were reliably detected by MRA. In 24 (71%) of 34 cases MR-angiographic delineation of the spleno-portal system and hepatic veins was superior compared to conventional angiography. Conclusion: Breath-hold gadolinium-enhanced dual-phase 3D-MRA has the potential to replace conventional angiography in the abdomen.