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An electrocardiographically (ECG) triggered breath-hold contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) angiography sequence has been developed for imaging the thoracic aorta. A three-dimensional (3D) gradient-echo sequence is used with a contrast material bolus. Forty-nine patients with various aortic abnormalities and five healthy volunteers underwent imaging with the sequence. All studies were performed in a single breath hold. ECG-triggered breath-hold contrastenhanced MR angiography was tolerated in 48 of the 49 patients. The images demonstrated no respiratory motion artifacts and diminished pulsation artifacts. The cardiac chambers, aortic root, ascending and descending aorta, aortic arch, proximal arch vessels, and proximal coronary arteries were clearly demonstrated and not obscured by ghost artifacts. The 3D data set allowed excellent multiplanar reformation, permitting orthogonal or oblique views of the vascular anatomy. A variety of congenital and acquired abnormalities were clearly identified. When this sequence is used, it is important to evaluate both the maximum-intensity projection and source images. Delayed imaging should be performed to detect late filling. In conjunction with cine MR and T1-weighted spin-echo imaging, ECG-triggered breath-hold contrastenhanced MR angiography should be considered the technique of choice for imaging the thoracic aorta.Abbreviations: ECG = electrocardiography, MIP = maximum-intensity projection, 3D = three-dimensional

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Catheter directed MD-CTA can be performed by retrofitting the current CT scanner with a portable c-arm fluoroscopy unit. S and AR MD-CTA provide high coronary anatomy definition and luminal attenuation without obscuring cardiac chamber signal and with the least iodinated contrast volume.

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