Non-contrast-enhanced hepatic MR arteriography with balanced steady-state free-precession and time spatial labeling inversion pulse: optimization of the inversion time at 3 Tesla

Abstract

BackgroundA 3 Tesla (3 T) magnetic resonance (MR) scanner is a promising tool for upper abdominal angiography. However, no report has focused on the contrast behavior of non-contrast-enhanced hepatic MR arteriography at 3 T.PurposeTo establish the optimal inversion time (TI) for favorable selective visualization of the hepatic arteries on non-contrast-enhanced MR arteriography with time spatial labeling inversion pulse (Time-SLIP) at 3 T.Material and MethodsTwenty-five healthy volunteers were examined using respiratory-triggered three-dimensional balanced steady-state free-precession combined with Time-SLIP. According to the difference in the TI, five image groups (A, B, C, D, and E, from 1200 to 2000 ms, increasing at 200-ms intervals) were performed and compared to detect the optimal TI for hepatic artery visualization. The relative Cv-l (vessel-to-liver contrast) was quantified. For qualitative evaluation, the vessel visualization quality and order of the depicted hepatic artery branches were evaluated.ResultsIn group C (TI of 1600 ms), the Cv-l showed the highest probably due to a favorable balance between the hepatic vessel signal and signal recovery of the surrounding tissue. Regarding qualitative assessment, in group C, the mean image quality score of all hepatic arteries and mean maximal visible order of the hepatic artery branches were the highest. However, there was no significant difference between these results.ConclusionNon-contrast-enhanced hepatic MR arteriography with Time-SLIP at 3 T enabled the selective visualization of hepatic arteries at a TI of 1600 ms with an optimal balance between Cv-l and peripheral hepatic artery visualization.

Non-contrast MR angiography using three-dimensional balanced steady-state free-precession imaging for evaluation of stenosis in the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery: a preliminary comparative study with computed tomography angiography

“…These few studies have focused primarily on the hepatic artery and portal vein. 8,[16][17][18] Recently, the American College of Radiology suggested that NC-MRA can be used as an alternative and complementary diagnostic method for the evaluation of the celiac trunk (CTR) and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in patients who exhibit contraindications to iodine-and gadolinium-based contrast agents. 1 Lately, the utility of this NC-MRA sequence was also considered in the evaluation of patients with suspected chronic mesenteric ischaemia.…”

Non-contrast-enhanced MR hepatic arteriography with time-spatial labeling inversion pulses: comparison of imaging with flow-in and modified flow-out methods

“…Therefore, in non-contrast-enhanced MR arteriography with the flow-in method, TI selection aims to strike a balance between vessel-to-liver contrast and peripheral hepatic artery visualization. In a previous study, a moderate TI, neither too short nor too long, was optimal for hepatic artery visualization on non-contrast-enhanced MR arteriography with the flow-in method (2,3); however, poor contrast and hepatic artery visualization was observed in some cases.…”

“…In non-contrast-enhanced MR angiography with the flow-in method, a selective inversion recovery tagging pulse is used for selective suppression of the background, and the untagged fresh blood appears as a bright-blood signal. Inversion time (TI) is an important factor in image contrast (2,3). A short TI facilitates background signal suppression, as the liver parenchyma has a relatively short TI value compared with arterial blood; however, the inflow signal of the hepatic arteries remains weak due to insufficient time for arterial blood filling, making the technique unsuitable for peripheral vessel visualization.…”

Editorial for “Non‐Contrast‐Enhanced MR Arteriography of Potential Living‐Related Liver Donor: Using Contrast Enhanced CT Arteriography as Standard Reference”

“…6,7 While promising, these techniques were studied in volunteers but not in potential donors and lacked a standard reference to compare against. 8,9 In this issue of JMRI, Chen et al 10 addressed limitations of previous studies and further evaluated the capability of NC-MRA to visualize the hepatic vasculature of potential donors for LDLT. In their prospective comparative imaging study, the authors characterized hepatic arteries at 1.5T using NC-MRA and compared it against CTA, the standard reference.…”

“…These methods leverage inflow‐enhanced inversion recovery (IFIR) to increase the signal intensity of blood on fat‐suppressed balanced steady‐state free‐precession (bSSFP) imaging 6,7 . While promising, these techniques were studied in volunteers but not in potential donors and lacked a standard reference to compare against 8,9 …”