Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

PURPOSE: To prospectively compare the black-blood ( BB black blood ) imaging efficiency of a delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation ( DANTE delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation ) preparation module with conventional double inversion-recovery ( DIR double inversion recovery ) and motion-sensitive driven equilibrium ( MSDE motion-sensitive driven equilibrium ) preparation modules and to introduce a new three-dimensional ( 3D three-dimensional ) T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Carotid artery wall imaging was performed in 10 healthy volunteers and 15 patients in accordance with an institutional review board-approved protocol. Two-dimensional ( 2D two-dimensional ) turbo spin-echo ( TSE turbo spin echo ) and 3D three-dimensional fast low-angle shot ( FLASH fast low-angle shot ) sequences served as readout modules. DANTE delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation -prepared T1-, T2-, and proton density-weighted 2D two-dimensional TSE turbo spin echo images, as well as T1-weighted 3D three-dimensional DANTE delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation -prepared FLASH fast low-angle shot (hereafter, 3D three-dimensional DASH DANTE-prepared FLASH ) images, were acquired in the region of the carotid artery bifurcation. For comparison, 2D two-dimensional DIR double inversion recovery -prepared, 2D two-dimensional MSDE motion-sensitive driven equilibrium -prepared multicontrast TSE turbo spin echo , and 3D three-dimensional MSDE motion-sensitive driven equilibrium -prepared FLASH fast low-angle shot (hereafter, 3D three-dimensional MERGE MSDE-prepared FLASH ) MR images were also acquired. The effective contrast-to-noise ratio ( CNReff effective contrast-to-noise ratio ) per unit time was calculated for all sequences. Paired t tests were performed to test within-group differences in vessel wall CNReff effective contrast-to-noise ratio . RESULTS: The CNReff effective contrast-to-noise ratio of DANTE delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation -prepared T1-, T2-, and proton density-weighted sequences was 27.3, 14.7, and 25.7 mm(-1)min(-1/2), respectively; this represented an improvement of approximately 25%-100% (P < .05) when compared with the CNReff effective contrast-to-noise ratio attained with existing methods. The 3D three-dimensional DASH DANTE-prepared FLASH technique proved to be a fast (<2 seconds per section) and high-spatial-resolution (0.6 mm isotropic) BB black blood technique with higher (75%-100% improvement, P < .001) signal-to-noise ratio efficiency than the 3D three-dimensional MERGE MSDE-prepared FLASH technique. CONCLUSION: The DANTE delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation -prepared multicontrast 2D two-dimensional BB black blood technique is a promising new tool for MR imaging of carotid artery walls. Additionally, the 3D three-dimensional DASH DANTE-prepared FLASH sequence enables 3D three-dimensional high-spatial-resolution fast T1-weighted imaging of carotid artery walls. ©RSNA, 2014 Online supplemental material is available for this article .

Original publication

DOI

10.1148/radiol.14131717

Type

Journal article

Journal

Radiology

Publication Date

11/2014

Volume

273

Pages

560 - 569

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Carotid Stenosis, Case-Control Studies, Humans, Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Magnetic Resonance Angiography, Male, Middle Aged, Signal-To-Noise Ratio