Gadopentate dimeglumine enhanced MR angiography (MRA) for staging AAA: a correlation with DSA and CT.

Purpose: To evaluate a contrast-enhanced (CE) MRA sequence for staging AAA. Methods: In 24 patients (male = 20, female = 4, age = 44-81y) with known AAA the abdominal aorta and its branches including the iliac arteries were imaged, using a 3D GRE-FISP sequence (1.5T, T-R/T-E/FA = 25/6/35, slab = 100-140 mm, 32 part., FOV = 440-450 mm, matrix = 256 x 256) during an i.v. infusion of 40 ml of gadopentate dimeglumine. In addition, representative axial single slices (2D breathhold FLASH-sequence: T-R/T-E/FA = 82/5/30) were acquired following contrast application. MR-results were correlated with i.a. DSA and CT studies. Results: With CE-MRA, AAA (n = 24) and iliac aneurysms (n = 17) could be evaluated in all cases (sens. = 100%, spec. = 100%) including luminal patency and mural thrombus. (50)/(54) renal arteries could be identified, (4)/(6) accessory renal arteries (sens. = 66.6%, spec. = 100%), (8)/(9) renal artery stenoses > 50% (sens. = 88.8%, spec. = 89.3%), (1)/(1) renal artery occlusion and (7)/(8) iliac artery stenoses > 50% (sens. = 87.5%, spec. = 97.5%) were depicted correctly. Proximal portion of sup. mes. art. could be detected and evaluated in (21)/(24) cases. Quantitative determination of therapeutically relevant vascular parameters using MRA was comparable to DSA and CT. Conclusions: CE-MRA is a useful method for staging of AAA and may become the method of choice when ultrafast MR techniques are used.