Catheter‐directed contrast‐enhanced coronary MR angiography in swine using magnetization‐prepared True‐FISP

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Abstract
Contrast‐enhanced (CE) coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) following intraarterial (IA) injection of contrast agent was compared using two sequences in swine: magnetization‐prepared fast imaging with steady‐state precession (True‐FISP), and magnetization‐prepared fast low‐angle shot (FLASH). Thick‐slice projection images were acquired with submillimeter in‐plane spatial resolution (0.9 × 0.8 mm2). The magnetization‐preparation scheme provided a clear delineation of the major coronary arteries with excellent background suppression. The True‐FISP acquisition resulted in an increase in signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) by approximately a factor of 2 over FLASH (P < 0.05). Magnetization‐prepared True‐FISP is a promising technique for catheter‐directed CE thick‐slice projection coronary MRA. Magn Reson Med 50:1317–1321, 2003.