Simultaneous acquisition of MR angiography and diagnostic images of abdomen at view-sharing multiarterial phases and comparing the effect of two different contrast agents

Abstract

Background: Simultaneous acquisition of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and diagnostic images is challenging in contrast-enhanced upper abdominal MRI. Purpose: To evaluate the image quality of MRA of the abdomen acquired simultaneously with diagnostic MR images, and to compare the contrast effect, conspicuity of aortic branches, and pancreatic lesions in MRA between gadobutrol and gadoterate meglumine. Study Type: Prospective. Population: Eighty-eight patients with known and suspected upper abdominal disease. Field Strength/Sequences: 3T/4D-eTHRIVE (T 1 -weighted fat-suppressed 3D fast gradient echo) for multiarterial phase imaging. Assessment: The artery-to-muscle signal intensity ratio (SIR), conspicuity of aortic branches on the axial, maximum intensity projection (MIP), and volume-rendered (VR) images, and conspicuity of focal pancreatic lesions were compared between gadobutrol and gadoterate meglumine. The diameters of aortic branches were measured on axial MRA and computed tomography angiography (CTA) images and then compared. Statistical Tests: Quantitative and qualitative data were assessed with the Mann–Whitney U-test. The diameters of aortic branches between MRA and CTA were compared with a Spearman rank correlation test. Results: View-sharing multiarterial phase imaging was successfully performed in all patients. The SIRs of common hepatic artery (P = 0.0051) and left renal artery (RA) (P = 0.045), vascular conspicuities of right and left hepatic arteries (P = 0.010 and 0.030) and right and left RAs on axial (P = 0.0065 and 0.036), and that of gastroduodenal artery on MIP (P = 0.039) with gadobutrol were significantly higher than those with gadoterate meglumine. The conspicuity of focal pancreatic lesions were comparable between the gadobutrol and gadoterate meglumine (P = 0.73). The vascular diameters on MRA and CTA were strongly correlated in all aortic branches (r = 0.842–0.942, P < 0.0001). Data Conclusion: High-quality MRA of the abdomen was obtained simultaneously with the diagnostic MR images using view-sharing multiarterial phase imaging that also demonstrated comparable image quality between gadobutrol and gadoterate meglumine. Level of Evidence: 2. Technical Efficacy Stage 1. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017.