Clinical application of pulse-gated non-enhanced rapid magnetic resonance imaging in the definitive diagnosis of aortic dissection

•Free breathing pulse gated non-enhanced rapid MR imaging can obtain images with diagnostic value.•Multi-plane and multi-angle thin-layer scanning are favorable for the display of the rupture, while some complex tears and bidirectional tears are poorly displayed.•Free breathing pulse gated non-enhanced rapid MR imaging technique can be used for the exclusive and definitive diagnosis of aortic dissection.•Non-enhancement peripheral pulse-gating rapid magnetic resonance imaging can be used for deterministic diagnosis of aortic dissection. Aortic Dissection (AD) is one of the most fatal acute diseases in cardiovascular diseases, with rapid onset and progression and a high fatality rate. This study aims to investigate the clinical values of non-enhancement peripheral pulse-gating rapid magnetic resonance imaging in deterministic diagnosis of AD. Aorta magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 21 healthy volunteers at a 1.5t MR scanner sequences including cardiac-gated and peripheral pulse-gated True-FISP and HASTE were carried out separately. Acquisition Time (TA), Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), Contrast Noise Ratio (CNR), and entirety of vessel wall blood flow artifacts were measured and compared. A total of 56 AD cases were displayed by non-enhancement peripheral pulse-gating fast MR imaging, and the results were compared with pathological findings or CTA of the aorta. The dissection rupture, tear film, true and false lumen, thrombosis, hydropericardium, and the main branches of AD were evaluated respectively. There were no significant differences in SNR, CNR, entirety of the vessel wall, and blood flow artifact between cardiac-gated and peripheral pulse-gated fast MR imaging. Non-enhancement pulse-gated fast scanning takes less TA time. By the pulse-gated non-enhancement fast MR imaging, the dissection rupture, tear film, true and false cavity, thrombosis, hydropericardium, and the main branches of aortic dissection were shown clearly. Multi-planar and multi-angle scans helped to show the extent of entrapment rupture, whereas partial complex tears or bi-directional tears were slightly less well visualized. Non-enhancement peripheral pulse-gated rapid magnetic resonance imaging can be used for deterministic diagnosis of AD.