Magnetic resonance imaging and MR angiography of endoluminally treated abdominal aortic aneurysms

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium-based contrast medium-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) for the follow-up of endoluminally treated abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Design: MRI/MRA, angiography and computed tomography (CT) were performed 1 month after endoluminal stent-graft placement. MRI/MRA was repeated at 6 and 12 months and angiography and CT were added to confirm unexpected findings.

Materials: Fifteen male patients with endoluminally treated abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Methods: MRI with MRA, spiral CT with transverse images and angiography were performed.

Results: MRI/MRA demonstrated changes of stent-graft morphology, aortic neck- and aneurysmal diameter, stent-graft blood flow, stent-graft leakage, blood flow in lumbar arteries, intra-aneurysmal thrombus, periaortic inflammation and vertebral body infarction. For most of these features MRI/MRA provided more information than angiography and/or CT. MRI was the only method demonstrating thrombus reorganisation and vertebral body infarction.

Conclusions: MRI with MRA provides the relevant information needed for follow-up of endoluminally treated abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). This may be the method of choice because of its use of contrast media with very low nephrotoxicity, lack of ionising radiation and non-invasiveness.