Thoracic aortic stent graft: comparison of contrast-enhanced MR angiography and CT angiography in the follow-up: initial results

Eur Radiol. 2003 Jul;13(7):1628-34. doi: 10.1007/s00330-003-1832-9. Epub 2003 Feb 19.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE MRA) and multislice computed tomographic angiography (MS CTA) in the follow-up of thoracic stent-graft placement. The CE MRA and MS CTA were performed following nitinol stent-graft treatment due to thoracic aneurysm ( n=4), intramural bleeding ( n=2) and type-B aortic dissection ( n=5). Corresponding evaluation of arterial-phase imaging characteristics focused on the stent-graft morphology and leakage assessment. Stent-graft and aneurysm extensions were comparable between both techniques. Complete exclusion (aneurysm, n=4; dissection, n=2) was assessed with high confidence with CE MRA and MS CTA. Incomplete exclusion (intramural bleeding, n=2; dissection, n=3) was assigned to lower confidence scores on CE MRA compared with MS CTA. On CE MRA the stent-graft lumen demonstrated an inhomogeneous signal, the stent struts could not be assessed. The CE MRA can be used as alternative non-invasive imaging for follow-up of nitinol stent grafts. Arterial-phase leak assessment can be less evident in CE MRA compared with MS CTA studies; therefore, the use of late-phase imaging seems to be necessary. The diagnostic gap of stent-graft fracture evaluation using MRA may be filled with plain radiographs.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alloys
  • Angiography / methods
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / pathology*
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / therapy
  • Aortic Dissection / pathology*
  • Aortic Dissection / therapy
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation*
  • Contrast Media
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gadolinium
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Iohexol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography*
  • Male
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Stents*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Substances

  • Alloys
  • Contrast Media
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • gadobutrol
  • nitinol
  • Iohexol
  • iopromide
  • Gadolinium