Gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography of the lower extremity arteries with on automated table-feed technique.

Purpose: To evaluate contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (ceMRA) with an automated table-feed technique in patients with arterio-occlusive disease for imaging of the pelvic and peripheral arteries. Methods: Twenty-two patients underwent three-dimensional gadolinium-enhanced MR angio-graphy in a three-step automatic table-feed technique on a Magnetom Symphony operating at 1.5 Tesla. Maximum intensity projection images (MIP) were generated from the subtracted and original studies. Image quality and venous contrast were evaluated by two groups of observers. 304 Vessels (17 patients) were compared with DSA as the standard of reference. Resorts: All examinations were performed without any technical problems. Diagnostic quality of the MIP of subtracted data sets was superior to that of the unsubtracted images. Venous overlay was 61 % in the lower leg. In a total of 599 observations, a sensitivity of 96 % (95 %, 82 %) and a specificity of 87 % (88 %, 99 %) were high compared to DSA in the detection of significant stenoses greater than or equal to 50% (greater than or equal to 75%, occlusions). Interobserver correlation was good (linear correlation 0.9). Conclusion: Stepping-table digital subtraction contrast enhanced MRA is a promising technique in the diagnosis of peripheral arterio-occlusive disease.