Breath-hold coronary MR angiography with volume-targeted imaging.

TLDR: Breath-hold volume targeted acquisitions permit rapid localization and coverage of the entire coronary tree with adequate resolution for evaluating the coronary arteries.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To illustrate a new concept for fast coronary artery screening with breath-hold volume targeted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten volunteers and 25 patients were imaged at a field strength of 1.5 T with an MR system with phased-array-coil reception and capable of echo-planar imaging. End-expiration breath-hold volume localization of the entire heart was performed with three-dimensional (3D) multishot segmented echo-planar imaging in 16-22 heartbeats. Interaction with a multiplaner reformation platform provided the optimal double-oblique volumes necessary to target seven coronary artery segments. Each segment was evaluated with 24-mm-thick volumes and breath holds at end expiration and magnetization transfer-enhanced 3D turbo fast low-angle shot imaging in 21 heartbeats. An intravascular contrast agent was used in eight patients to improve blood-myocardium contrast for the heart volume localizer acquisitions. RESULTS: The entire coronary tree was consistently covered in f...