Arterial pseudostenosis on first-pass gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography: new observation of a potential pitfall

AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2000 Aug;175(2):523-7. doi: 10.2214/ajr.175.2.1750523.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of apparent stenosis of normal aortic branches in patients on first-pass gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) MR angiography and to reproduce the same phenomenon in a pulsatile flow phantom model.

Conclusion: Apparent stenosis of normal vessels on gadolinium-enhanced 3D MR angiography seen on the first-pass acquisition was observed in only a small proportion (approximately 2%) of our patients. The pseudostenosis was reproducible in the phantom model using rapid injection. A stenosis on first-pass images should be interpreted with caution. Confirmation of the findings on other sequences, such as the second-pass gadolinium-enhanced 3D MR angiography or 3D phase-contrast MR angiography, prevented overdiagnosis of significant stenoses.

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / pathology*
  • Female
  • Gadolinium*
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Reproducibility of Results

Substances

  • Gadolinium