The procedure also maintains acceptable visualization at 3T.
Non-contrast coronary MR angiography (MRA) using compressed sensing (CS) may shorten acquisition time, compared with conventional navigator-gated coronary MRA, according to a study published in the European Journal of Radiology.
Researchers from Japan and Germany sought to evaluate the scan time and image quality of CS coronary MRA compared with conventional coronary MRA. They recruited 20 healthy volunteers who underwent navigator-gated coronary MRA with a CS prototype sequence and conventional navigator-gated coronary MRA on a clinical 3T MRI scanner without contrast medium. The spatial resolutions were 1.33â¯×â¯1.33â¯×â¯1.20â¯mm3 for CS and 1.33â¯×â¯1.33â¯×â¯1.48â¯mm3 interpolated to 0.70â¯×â¯0.70â¯×â¯1.20â¯mm3 for conventional, respectively.
The researchers compared acquisition times, rated image quality on a four-point scale (RCA; proximal, middle, and distal, LAD; main, proximal, middle, and distal, LCX; proximal and distal), and measured the visualized vessel lengths of three vessels.
The results showed mean acceptance rates were 44.9 percent for CS coronary MRA and 48.7 percent for conventional coronary MRA. The CS coronary MRA was quicker, with a mean effective scan time of threeâ¯minutes, 45 seconds compared to 15â¯minutes, 6â¯seconds for conventional coronary MRA. The image quality scores were significantly lower for CS coronary MRA than for conventional coronary MRA. Conventional coronary MRA images were scored >3.4 in all segments on average, while CS coronary MRA images were scored >3.2 (good quality for diagnosis) in almost all segments, with only the distal RCA segment graded 2.9 on average.
The researchers concluded that use of non-contrast coronary MRA using CS could largely shorten acquisition time, compared with conventional navigator-gated coronary MRA, while maintaining acceptable visualization at 3T.
The Reading Room Podcast: Emerging Trends in the Radiology Workforce
February 11th 2022Richard Duszak, MD, and Mina Makary, MD, discuss a number of issues, ranging from demographic trends and NPRPs to physician burnout and medical student recruitment, that figure to impact the radiology workforce now and in the near future.
Four Strategies to Address the Tipping Point in Radiology
January 17th 2025In order to flip the script on the impact of the radiology workforce shortage, radiology groups and practices need to make sound investments in technologies and leverage partnerships to mitigate gaps in coverage and maximize workflow efficiencies.
Shaping the Future of Radiology in 2025: Trends, Threats, and Opportunities
January 10th 2025How do we respond to challenges with staff recruitment, cybersecurity, and looming hospital takeovers in radiology? This author assesses key trends in radiology and offers key insights to stay competitive in the field.