Abstract
To investigate the potential of free-breathing 3D steady-state free
precession (SSFP) imaging with radial k-space sampling for coronary
MR-angiography (MRA), coronary projection MR-angiography and coronary
vessel wall imaging.A navigator-gated free-breathing T2-prepared
3D SSFP sequence (TR = 6.1 ms, TE = 3.0 ms, flip angle = 120 degrees,
field-of-view = 360 mm(2)) with radial k-space sampling (384 radials)
was implemented for coronary MRA. For projection coronary MRA, this
sequence was combined with a 2D selective aortic spin tagging pulse.
Coronary vessel wall imaging was performed using a high-resolution
inversion-recovery black-blood 3D radial SSFP sequence (384 radials,
TR = 5.3 ms, TE = 2.7 ms, flip angle = 55 degrees, reconstructed
resolution 0.35 x 0.35 x 1.2 mm(3)) and a local re-inversion pulse.
Six healthy volunteers (two for each sequence) were investigated.
Motion artifact level was assessed by two radiologists.In coronary
MRA, the coronary lumen was displayed with a high signal and high
contrast to the surrounding lumen. Projection coronary MRA demonstrated
selective visualization of the coronary lumen while surrounding tissue
was almost completely suppressed. In coronary vessel wall imaging,
the vessel wall was displayed with a high signal when compared to
the blood pool and the surrounding tissue. No visible motion artifacts
were seen.3D radial SSFP imaging enables coronary MRA, coronary projection
MRA and coronary vessel wall imaging with a low motion artifact level.
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