Coronary arteries: breath-hold, gadolinium-enhanced, three-dimensional MR angiography

Abstract

The feasibility of three-dimensional (3D), single breath-hold, gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) coronary angiography was investigated. A 3D spoiled gradient-echo imaging technique was used to image the passage of intravenously injected paramagnetic contrast agent through the coronary vasculature in four healthy subjects. Image contrast depended solely on the injected contrast agent. 3D acquisition allowed retrospective reformation and display with maximum intensity projection and rendering algorithms.