PURPOSE: To compare three dimensional contrast enhanced MR angiography with parallel imaging technique (sensitivity encoding) to standard MR angiography technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: CE-3D MRA of renal arteries was performed in 22 @entity1 (23 examinations) on a 1.5 T MR- scanner (Gyroscan Intera, Philips, Netherlands). For contrast enhanced MRA a single dose of @entity7241 (0.1 mmol/kg b.w.) was administered. Group I: The following standard 3D gradient echo (GE) sequence was performed in 9 of the 22 @entity1 : TR: 4.3 ms, TE: 1.5 ms, flip angle: 40, 40 slices, scan duration: 19 seconds. A spatial resolution of 1.96 x 1.76 x 3.0 mm (3) (1.76 x 1.76 x 1.5 mm (3) interpolated) was obtained. Group II: 14 examinations were acquired in 13 @entity1 : TR, TE and flip angle were equal compared to the first protocol. The k-space lines were acquired with CENTRA (contrast-enhanced time robust angiography) and parallel imaging technique ( @entity3325 ). 60 slices were acquired, scan duration was 24 seconds. The spatial resolution of this sequence was 1.19 x 1.08 x 2.0 mm (3) (0,84 x 0,84 x 1,0 mm (3) interpolated). Original images and calculated maximum intensity projection (MIP) images were analysed by two radiologists. Image quality and the visibility of renal arteries were rated on a four-point scale. RESULTS: In the first group the image quality was rated "good" in 8/9 @entity1 . The renal arteries were detected in all cases and rated "good". The anterior and posterior segments were rated "good" in only 5/9 and the lobar arteries were detectable only in 3 of 9 cases. The interlobar arteries could not be seen in these @entity1 . In the second group the image quality was rated excellent in 5 examinations and good in 9 of 14 examinations. The rating for the renal arteries was excellent in all examinations (14/14). The results of the anterior and posterior segment were as followed: excellent 5/14, good 7/14, insufficient 2/14; the lobar arteries: good 6/14, insufficient 6/14 and not detectable 2/14. Interlobar arteries could be seen in 7/14 examinations, but the quality was insufficient. In 7/14 the interlobar arteries could not be detected. CONCLUSION: The use of parallel imaging technique improves image quality and the delineation of small vessels in renal MRA.

[High resolution contrast-enhanced 3D MR-angiography of renal arteries using parallel imaging ( XXXX )].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity3325 :: ('MESH:D020886', 'Disease') :: ['SENSE'] @entity7241 :: ('MESH:D019786', 'Chemical') :: ['Gd-DTPA']
@entity3325 :: (MESH:D020886,Disease) :: ['SENSE']
