High temporal and high spatial resolution contrast-enhanced MR angiography with CENTRA keyhole and SENSE at 3.0 T

Purpose: To evaluate feasibility of dynamic, high spatial resolution contrast-enhanced (CE) MR angiography at 3.0T using CENTRA keyhole and sensitivity encoding (SENSE).

Methods: In a prospective study, CE MRA of the brain (n=6) and the feet/hand (n=2) was performed with CENTRA keyhole and SENSE in 8 patients on a clinical whole body 3.0T MR system (Intera, Philips Medical Systems, NL). SENSE factors of 3 and 2 were used in phase encoding and slice encoding direction, respectively (T1w 3D gradient-echo; TR/TE/FA, 2.9–4.4 msec/1.0–1.4 msec/25°). With a keyhole diameter of 16%, 29 (brain) and 6 Feet/hand) dynamic acquisitions of 1s. (brain) and 7.7s. (feet/hand) were sampled at a spatial resolution of 1.1×1.4×1.1mm³ and 0.7×0.9×1.0mm³, respectively.

Results: Dynamic CE MRA at 3.0T with CENTRA keyhole and SENSE was successfully performed in 8/8 (100%). The images contained crisp vessels without any artifact possibly created by the transition of the keyhole sphere and the reference dataset. A speedup factor was reached of 6 (CENTRA keyhole) x 6 (SENSE)=36.

Conclusion: The combination of CENTRA keyhole and SENSE is feasible at 3.0T to allow for fast, dynamic, high spatial resolution MRA of the brain and the feet/hand. Studies are underway to further determine the clinical performance.