Radiale k-Raumabtastung zurMR-tomographischen Echtzeitdarstellung der zentralen undperipheren Pulmonalgefäße*

Purpose: To depict the central and peripheral pulmonary vessel anatomy with real-time radial MR scanning without respiratory control. Methods: Three healthy volunteers and one patient with pulmonary embolism proven by spiral CT angiography were studied with a 1.5T MR imaging system. First, a breath-hold, contrast-enhanced MR angiography was performed for comparison of accuracy. Gradient echo images (T(R)16 ms, T(E)4 ms, flip angle 18 degrees) were obtained applying a combination of radial scanning and the sliding window reconstruction technique. A dedicated backprojector allowed data reconstruction in real-time with a frame rate of 20 images per,second. Scanning was performed during free breathing. Results: The described technique depicted the central and peripheral portions of the normal pulmonary anatomy with comparable image quality as the 3D contrast-enhanced angiography. Visualization of the pulmonary emboli as demonstrated by spiral CT was possible. Conclusion: Real-time radial scanning allows': promising image acquisition of the pulmonary vasculature without: respiratory control. Further technical improvements and clinical trials are required to evaluate its role in the diagnosis of vascular pathologies.