Initial experience with balanced turbo field echo in depicting carotid artery stenosis: Comparison with multiple overlapping thin slab acquisition and 3D contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance angiography

Abstract

Purpose:To compare balanced turbo field echo (bTFE) with multiple overlapping thin slice acquisition (MOTSA) and contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) in depicting carotid artery stenosis. Materials and Methods:In this study 86 patients with cerebrovascular disease, who had been referred for a carotid examination, were imaged. All of the patients underwent MOTSA and one of four bTFE sequences followed by CE-MRA. Formatted maximum intensity projections (MIPs) and source images were read in a blinded fashion by a radiologist. Interand intrasequence statistical analyses were performed. Results:We first compared image quality (IQ) and fat, background, and venous suppression using four distinct bTFE protocols in 118 carotid arteries, and found that bTFE4 performed the best. We then compared IQ, grades of stenosis, and background and venous suppression among bTFE4, MOTSA, and CE-MRA. bTFE produced significantly better IQ and venous suppression (P Ͻ 0.001), and higher SNR and CNR (P Ͻ 0.05) when compared to MOTSA. Conclusion:The bTFE sequence is robust and provides high-quality images in patients with mild to moderate carotid artery stenosis. Even though there is a tendency to overestimate stenosis with bTFE compared to CE-MRA, the shorter scan time of bTFE coupled with enhanced SNR and CNR measurements validates it as a clinically useful adjunct to MOTSA, if not a replacement.

Study of the left renal variations by means of magnetic resonance imaging

“…BTFE-BH SENSE sequence provides very high signal for tissues with high T2/T1 ratio and can be used in imaging of diVerent organs and systems in the human body, such as heart, carotid artery and other vessels, spine, abdomen and joints [2,3,11,15,16]. In the present study, BTFE-BH SENSE sequence with routine MRI sequences was useful in assessment of left renal vein variations and can be preferred for its providing excellent anatomical detail and for its being clinically safe, since no iodinated contrast material or ionizing radiation was used.…”

Feasibility of Non-contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Angiography for Imaging Upper Extremity Vasculature Prior to Vascular Access Creation

“…Our results reflect those of Gupta et al who found that bTFE is capable of accurately detecting stenoses. 27 What is the potential additional value of MRA in clinical practice considering the higher costs and lower availability in the era of widespread DUS usage? With regard to the current results, we hypothesise that routine preoperative assessment using the described NCE-MRA sequence is potentially beneficial in all patients prior to dialysis access creation because vascular pathology overlooked with DUS may be identified and anticipated on, and non-invasive extraction of vascular geometry for patientspecific computational modelling becomes feasible.…”