Lohan Derek G, Barkhordarian Fatemeh, Saleh Roya, Krishnam Mayil, Salamon Noriko, Ruehm Stefan G, Finn J Paul
Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Peter V. Ueberroth Bldg., Ste. 3371, 10945 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095-7206, USA.
AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2007 Nov;189(5):1088-94. doi: 10.2214/AJR.07.2235.
A number of clinical situations exist in which high-resolution depiction of the external carotid artery system is required, a task not previously addressed by MR angiography. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which high-spatial-resolution MR angiography at 3 T can be used to map the normal external carotid artery system.
Twenty-three consenting adult patients were prospectively evaluated. Images acquired were evaluated by two independent observers, and each branch vessel was scored with regard to image quality, presence and grade of stenoses, and artifacts. Interobserver agreement regarding image quality and the presence and degree of stenosis was tested using the kappa coefficient. Differences in quality ratings between the two observers were assessed using the paired Student's t test.
Of 828 vessels analyzed, 92.63% were designated of diagnostic quality with no significant difference between the observers' image quality scores (p = 0.63). Good agreement was determined regarding image quality achieved (kappa = 0.716). All examinations were free of artifact sufficient to interfere with confident interpretation. Excellent correlation was seen with regard to stenosis detection and grading (kappa = 0.857). Of the external carotid artery systems assessed, 82.6% showed conventional anatomic vascular branching.
High-spatial-resolution, 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography at 3 T using sagittal source data acquisition and an advanced acceleration factor of 6 allows high-quality (92.63% of arterial segments) visualization of the external carotid artery system, with complete head and neck vascular coverage.
存在多种临床情况需要对颈外动脉系统进行高分辨率描绘，而这一任务此前磁共振血管造影术尚未涉及。本研究的目的是评估3T高空间分辨率磁共振血管造影术用于绘制正常颈外动脉系统的程度。
前瞻性评估了23名同意参与的成年患者。获取的图像由两名独立观察者进行评估，对每条分支血管的图像质量、狭窄的存在及分级以及伪影进行评分。使用kappa系数检验观察者之间在图像质量以及狭窄的存在和程度方面的一致性。使用配对t检验评估两名观察者之间质量评分的差异。
在分析的828条血管中，92.63%被判定为具有诊断质量，观察者的图像质量评分之间无显著差异（p = 0.63）。确定在实现的图像质量方面具有良好的一致性（kappa = 0.716）。所有检查均无足以干扰可靠解读的伪影。在狭窄检测和分级方面观察到极佳的相关性（kappa = 0.857）。在评估的颈外动脉系统中，82.6%显示出传统的解剖血管分支。
3T高空间分辨率、三维对比增强磁共振血管造影术，采用矢状源数据采集和6的高级加速因子，能够高质量（92.63%的动脉段）显示颈外动脉系统，并实现头颈部血管的完整覆盖。
