3D navigator for localization of peripheral coronary segments by magnetic resonance imaging angiography

Aim of the study was to assess a new method to followup patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD), by noninvasive MRI angiography. The method is based on 3D reconstruction of planar cineangiographic images. It is addressed to expand informative content and to extract data from conventional 2D-images, aiming to guide and optimize the use of magnetic resonance for coronary artery visualization. The preliminary tests have shown that it is possible to obtain a fast MRI localization of peripheral coronary segments due to a more precise target volume of scan. This could overcome some limits of MRI examination of coronary tree and expands the use of noninvasive MRI technique in CAD follow-up.