Whole body MR angiography screening

Lack of side effects, diagnostic accuracy and recent improvements in technology qualify magnetic resonance imaging for preventive cardiovascular imaging. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of a comprehensive contrast-enhanced three-dimensional whole-body MR (magnetic resonance) angiography examination technique using a rolling table platform system with a 1.5-T MR system. The examination yielded diagnostic image quality in 5312 out of 5400 (98.3%) evaluated vascular segments in 180 consecutive patients with peripheral vascular disease. Besides the proved peripheral vascular disease, additional relevant vascular disease was found in 65 vessel segments in 42 patients: carotid artery stenosis (n=21), subclavian artery stenosis (n=5), renal artery stenosis (n=27) abdominal aortic aneurysm (n=7), aortic dissection (n=5). In 20 patients additional imaging studies confirmed the results of whole-body MRA without false positive or false negative findings. The described whole-body MR angiography protocol appears well suited for comprehensive evaluation of the arterial system beyond the peripheral vasculature.