1. Comparison of contrast-enhanced MR angiography of spinal cord vessels with use of gadopentetate dimeglumine (Magnevist; A, B, and C) and the blood pool agent MS-325 (Vasovist; C, D and E) in the same patient with a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm.
Comparison of contrast-enhanced MR angiography of spinal cord vessels with use of gadopentetate dimeglumine (Magnevist; A, B, and C) and the blood pool agent MS-325 (Vasovist; C, D and E) in the same patient with a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. For both contrast agents, the first- and second-phase MR angiograms (each 40 seconds, 0.8 × 0.8 × 1.2 mm) are shown depicting the AKA (white arrow) and the GARV (double arrow). The vessels depicted appear slightly brighter (particularly in the second phase) with the blood agent (D) due to the higher longitudinal relaxivity. E, The main advantage of a blood agent is that it remains for a substantially longer time in the circulation, which allows long acquisition times (6 minutes) and, thus, high signal intensity-to-noise ratio and/or high spatial resolution (0.4 × 0.4 × 0.8 mm), as demonstrated with the steady-state image. Although steady-state images may provide strongly improved image quality compared with fast 2-phase images, differentiation between inlet artery and outlet vein is not possible. Note that the conus of the cord becomes enhanced as well.
W.H. Backes, and R.J. Nijenhuis AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2008;29:
©2008 by American Society of Neuroradiology