MultiHance in MRA of peripheral vasculature.

Abstract

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is a cost effective technique able to detect and quantify stenoses, provide sub-millimeter resolution with full arterial coverage, and show true vessel delineation without artifacts.The quality of images obtained with gadolinium-enhanced MRA depends on the gradient system, coil, sequence design, and contrast agent (volume, dose and injection rate). MRA protocols are evolving from standard k-space sampling (linear from the periphery or the center) to elliptic centric view ordering and to time-resolved MRA. Finally, the gadolinium-based contrast agent Gd-BOPTA (gadobenate dimeglumine, MultiHance; Bracco Imaging, Milan, Italy) offers considerably greater imaging efficacy compared to conventional gadolinium chelates,because identical results can be obtained at lower doses. In conclusion, MRA of the peripheral vasculature is a simple and fast technique, which permits evaluation of a large field of view without risk of radiation exposure.