Lung parenchyma and structure visualisation in paediatric chest MRI: a comparison of different short and ultra-short echo time protocols.

AIM: To evaluate image quality acquired at lung imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences using short and ultra-short (UTE) echo times (TEs) with different acquisition strategies (breath-hold, prospective, and retrospective gating) in paediatric patients and in healthy volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: End-inspiratory and end-expiratory three-dimensional (3D) spoiled gradient (SPGR3D) and 3D zero echo-time (ZTE3D), and 3D UTE free-breathing (UTE3D), prospective projection navigated radial ZTE3D (ZTE3D vnav), and four-dimensional ZTE (ZTE4D) were performed using a 1.5 T MRI system. For quantitative assessment, the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values were calculated. To evaluate image quality, qualitative scoring was undertaken on all sequences to evaluate depiction of intrapulmonary vessels, fissures, bronchi, imaging noise, artefacts, and overall acceptability. RESULTS: Eight cystic fibrosis (CF) patients (median age 14 years, range 13-17 years), seven children with history of prematurity with or without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD; median 10 years, range 10-11 years), and 10 healthy volunteers (median 32 years, range 20-52 years) were included in the study. ZTE3D vnav provided the most reliable output in terms of image quality, although scan time was highly dependent on navigator triggering efficiency and respiratory pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Best image quality was achieved with prospective ZTE3D and UTE3D readouts both in children and volunteers. The current implementation of retrospective ZTE3D readout (ZTE4D) did not provide diagnostic image quality but rather introduced artefacts over the entire imaging volume mimicking lung pathology.

Deep learning for improving ZTE MRI images in free breathing.

INTRODUCTION: Despite a growing interest in lung MRI, its broader use in a clinical setting remains challenging. Several factors limit the image quality of lung MRI, such as the extremely short T2 and T2* relaxation times of the lung parenchyma and cardiac and breathing motion. Zero Echo Time (ZTE) sequences are sensitive to short T2 and T2* species paving the way to improved "CT-like" MR images. To overcome this limitation, a retrospective respiratory gated version of ZTE (ZTE4D) which can obtain images in 16 different respiratory phases during free breathing was developed. Initial performance of ZTE4D have shown motion artifacts. To improve image quality, deep learning with fully convolutional neural networks (FCNNs) has been proposed. CNNs has been widely used for MR imaging, but it has not been used for improving free-breathing lung imaging yet. Our proposed pipeline facilitates the clinical work with patients showing difficulties/uncapable to perform breath-holding, or when the different gating techniques are not efficient due to the irregular respiratory pace. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After signed informed consent and IRB approval, ZTE4D free breathing and breath-hold ZTE3D images were obtained from 10 healthy volunteers on a 1.5 T MRI scanner (GE Healthcare Signa Artist, Waukesha, WI). ZTE4D acquisition captured all 16 phases of the respiratory cycle. For the ZTE breath-hold, the subjects were instructed to hold their breath in 5 different inflation levels ranging from full expiration to full inspiration. The training dataset consisting of ZTE-BH images of 10 volunteers was split into 8 volunteers for training, 1 for validation and 1 for testing. In total 800 ZTE breath-hold images were constructed by adding Gaussian noise and performing image transformations (translations, rotations) to imitate the effect of motion in the respiratory cycle, and blurring from varying diaphragm positions, as it appears for ZTE4D. These sets were used to train a FCNN model to remove the artificially added noise and transformations from the ZTE breath-hold images and reproduce the original quality of the images. Mean squared error (MSE) was used as loss function. The remaining 2 healthy volunteer's ZTE4D images were used to test the model and qualitatively assess the predicted images. RESULTS: Our model obtained a MSE of 0.09% on the training set and 0.135% on the validation set. When tested on unseen data the predicted images from our model improved the contrast of the pulmonary parenchyma against air filled regions (airways or air trapping). The SNR of the lung parenchyma was quantitatively improved by a factor of 1.98 and the CNR lung- blood, which is indicating the visibility of the intrapulmonary vessels, was improved by 4.2%. Our network was able to reduce ghosting artifacts, such as diaphragm movement and blurring, and enhancing image quality. DISCUSSION: Free-breathing 3D and 4D lung imaging with MRI is feasible, however its quality is not yet acceptable for clinical use. This can be improved with deep learning techniques. Our FCNN improves the visual image quality and reduces artifacts of free-breathing ZTE4D. Our main goal was rather to remove ghosting artifacts from the ZTE4D images, to improve diagnostic quality of the images. As main results of the network, diaphragm contour increased with sharper edges by visual inspection and less blurring of the anatomical structures and lung parenchyma. CONCLUSION: With FCNNs, image quality of free breathing ZTE4D lung MRI can be improved and enable better visualization of the lung parenchyma in different respiratory phases.

Imaging of respiratory muscles in neuromuscular disease: A review.

Respiratory muscle weakness frequently occurs in patients with neuromuscular disease. Measuring respiratory function with standard pulmonary function tests provides information about the contribution of all respiratory muscles, the lungs and airways. Imaging potentially enables the study of different respiratory muscles, including the diaphragm, separately. In this review, we provide an overview of imaging techniques used to study respiratory muscles in neuromuscular disease. We identified 26 studies which included a total of 573 patients with neuromuscular disease. Imaging of respiratory muscles was divided into static and dynamic techniques. Static techniques comprise chest radiography, B-mode (brightness mode) ultrasound, CT and MRI, and are used to assess the position and thickness of the diaphragm and the other respiratory muscles. Dynamic techniques include fluoroscopy, M-mode (motion mode) ultrasound and MRI, used to assess diaphragm motion in one or more directions. We discuss how these imaging techniques relate with spirometric values and whether these can be used to study the contribution of the different respiratory muscles in patients with neuromuscular disease.

Influence of delayed gadolinium enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) protocol on T2-mapping: is it possible to comprehensively assess knee cartilage composition in one post-contrast MR examination at 3 Tesla?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possibility of assessing knee cartilage with T2-mapping and delayed gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cartilage (dGEMRIC) in one post-contrast MR examination at 3 Tesla (T). DESIGN: T2 mapping was performed in 10 healthy volunteers at baseline; directly after baseline; after 10 min of cycling; and after 90 min delay, and in 16 osteoarthritis patients before and after intravenous administration of a double dose gadolinium dimeglumine contrast agent, reflecting key dGEMRIC protocol elements. Differences in T2 relaxation times between each timepoint and baseline were calculated for 6 cartilage regions using paired t tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and the smallest detectable change (SDC). RESULTS: After cycling, a significant change in T2 relaxation times was found in the lateral weight-bearing tibial plateau (+1.0 ms, P = 0.04). After 90 min delay, significant changes were found in the lateral weight-bearing femoral condyle (+1.2 ms, P = 0.03) and the lateral weight-bearing tibial plateau (+1.3 ms, P = 0.01). In these regions of interests (ROIs), absolute differences were small and lower than the corresponding SDCs. T2-mapping after contrast administration only showed statistically significantly lower T2 relaxation times in the medial posterior femoral condyle (-2.4 ms, P < 0.001) with a change exceeding the SDC. CONCLUSION: Because dGEMRIC protocol elements resulted in only small differences in T2 relaxation times that were not consistent and lower than the SDC in the majority of regions, our results suggest that T2-mapping and dGEMRIC can be performed reliably in a single imaging session to assess cartilage biochemical composition in knee osteoarthritis (OA) at 3 T.

Regional heterogeneity changes in DCE-MRI as response to isolated limb perfusion in experimental soft-tissue sarcomas.

Experimental evidence supports an association between heterogeneity in tumor perfusion and response to chemotherapy/radiotherapy, disease progression and malignancy. Therefore, changes in tumor perfusion may be used to assess early effects of tumor treatment. However, evaluating changes in tumor perfusion during treatment is complicated by extensive changes in tumor type, size, shape and appearance. Therefore, this study assesses the regional heterogeneity of tumors by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and evaluates changes in response to isolated limb perfusion (ILP) with tumor necrosis factor alpha and melphalan. Data were acquired in an experimental cancer model, using a macromolecular contrast medium, albumin-(Gd-DTPA)45. Small fragments of BN 175 (a soft-tissue sarcoma) were implanted in eight brown Norway rats. MRI of five drug-treated and three sham-treated rats was performed at baseline and 1 h after ILP intervention. Properly co-registered baseline and follow-up DCE-MRI were used to estimate the volume transfer constant (K(trans) ) pharmacokinetic maps. The regional heterogeneity was estimated in 16 tumor sectors and presented in cumulative map-volume histograms. On average, ILP-treated tumors showed a decrease in regional heterogeneity on the histograms. This study shows that heterogenic changes in regional tumor perfusion, estimated using DCE-MRI pharmacokinetic maps, can be measured and used to assess the short-term effects of a potentially curative treatment on the tumor microvasculature in an experimental soft-tissue sarcoma model.

Prevalence and risk factors of cerebral microbleeds: the Rotterdam Scan Study.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral microbleeds are focal deposits of hemosiderin that can be visualized with MRI. Little is known on their prevalence in the general population and on their etiology. It has been suggested that, in analogy to spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage, the etiology of microbleeds differs according to their location in the brain, with lobar microbleeds being caused by cerebral amyloid angiopathy and deep or infratentorial microbleeds resulting from hypertension and atherosclerosis. We investigated the prevalence of and risk factors for microbleeds in the general population aged 60 years and older. METHODS: This study is based on 1,062 persons (mean age 69.6 years) from the population-based Rotterdam Scan Study. MRI was performed at 1.5 T and included a sequence optimized to increase the conspicuity of microbleeds. We assessed the relation of APOE genotype, cardiovascular risk factors, and markers of small vessel disease to the presence and location of microbleeds with multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of cerebral microbleeds was high and increased with age from 17.8% in persons aged 60-69 years to 38.3% in those over 80 years. APOE epsilon 4 carriers had significantly more often strictly lobar microbleeds than noncarriers. In contrast, cardiovascular risk factors and presence of lacunar infarcts and white matter lesions were associated with microbleeds in a deep or infratentorial location but not in a lobar location. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cerebral microbleeds is high. Our data support the hypothesis that strictly lobar microbleeds are related to cerebral amyloid angiopathy, whereas microbleeds in a deep or infratentorial location result from hypertensive or atherosclerotic microangiopathy.

Incorporating functional MR imaging into diffusion tensor tractography in the preoperative assessment of the corticospinal tract in patients with brain tumors.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our goal was to improve the preoperative assessment of the corticospinal tract (CST) in patients with brain tumors. We investigated whether the integration of functional MR imaging (fMRI) data and diffusion tensor (DT) tractography can be used to evaluate the spatial relationship between the hand and foot fibers of the CST and tumor borders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We imaged 10 subjects: 1 healthy volunteer and 9 patients. Imaging consisted of a 3D T1-weighted sequence, a gradient-echo echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence for fMRI, and a diffusion-weighted EPI sequence for DT tractography. DT tractography was initiated from a seed region of interest in the white matter area subjacent to the maximal fMRI activity in the precentral cortex. The target region of interest was placed in the cerebral peduncle. RESULTS: In the healthy volunteer, we successfully tracked hand, foot, and lip fibers bilaterally by using fMRI-based DT tractography. In all patients, we could track the hand fibers of the CST bilaterally. In 4 patients who also performed foot tapping, we could clearly distinguish hand and foot fibers. We were able to depict the displacement of hand and foot fibers by tumor and the course of fibers through areas of altered signal intensity. CONCLUSION: Incorporating fMRI into DT tractography in the preoperative assessment of patients with brain tumors may provide additional information on the course of important white matter tracts and their relationship to the tumor. Only this approach allows a distinction between the CST components, while visualization of the CST is improved when fiber tracking is hampered by tumor (infiltration) or perifocal edema.

Fiber density asymmetry of the arcuate fasciculus in relation to functional hemispheric language lateralization in both right- and left-handed healthy subjects: a combined fMRI and DTI study.

Previously reported leftward asymmetry in language-related gray and white matter areas of the brain has been proposed as a structural correlate of left-sided functional hemispheric language lateralization. However, structural asymmetry in non-left-sided functional language lateralization has as yet not been studied. Furthermore, the neuroanatomical basis of the reported volumetric white matter asymmetry is not fully understood. In 20 healthy volunteers, including 13 left-handers, we performed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We studied the relative fiber density (RFD) of the arcuate fasciculus (AF), using DT-tractography, in relation to functional hemispheric language lateralization. Hemispheric language lateralization was right-sided in five left-handed individuals. We demonstrated an overall significant leftward asymmetry in RFD of the AF, irrespective of handedness or functional language lateralization. Furthermore, in right-handers, the degree of structural asymmetry was found to be correlated with the degree of functional lateralization. We conclude that structural asymmetry in the AF does not seem to reflect functional hemispheric language lateralization, as has been proposed previously. Our findings suggest that the previously reported white matter asymmetry may be explained by a structural asymmetry in the arcuate fasciculus. These findings have important implications for the understanding of the functional and structural lateralization of brain regions as well as for the clinical evaluation of language function.

In vitro imaging of single living human umbilical vein endothelial cells with a clinical 3.0-T MRI scanner.

Iron oxide-labelled, single, living human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were imaged over time in vitro using a clinical 3.0-T magnetic resonance (MR) microscopy system. Labelling efficiency, toxicity, cell viability, proliferation and differentiation were assessed using flow cytometry, magnetic cell sorting and a phenanthroline assay. MR images were compared with normal light and fluorescence microscopy. Efficient uptake of iron oxide into HUVECs was shown, although with higher label uptake dose-dependent cytotoxic effects were observed, affecting cell viability. For MR imaging, a T2* weighted three-dimensional protocol was used with in-plane resolution of 39 x 48 microm2 and 100-microm slices with a scan time of 13 min. MRI could detect living cells in standard culture dishes at single-cell resolution, although label loss was observed that corresponded with the intracellular iron measurements. MR microscopy using iron oxide labels is a promising tool for studying HUVEC migration and cell biology in vitro and in vivo, but possible toxic effects of label uptake and loss of label over time should be taken into account.

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging of iron-labeled myoblasts using a standard 1.5-T clinical scanner.

Myoblast transplantation is a promising means of restoring cardiac function in infarcted areas. For optimization of transplant protocols, tracking the location and fate of the injected cells is necessary. An attractive imaging modality for this is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as it is noninvasive and as iron-labeled myoblasts provide a signal attenuation in T2*-weighted protocols. The aim of this study was to develop an efficient iron-labeling protocol for myoblasts and to visualize single-labeled cells using a clinical 1.5-T scanner. Pig myoblasts were labeled with a superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) agent using a liposome transfection agent. Labeling efficiency, toxicity, cell viability, and proliferative capacity were measured for 10 days. Magnetic resonance (MR) of myoblast cultures used a T2*-weighted three-dimensional protocol with a maximum in-plane resolution of 19.5 x 26.0 microm2 and 50 microm slices. Use of liposomes improved SPIO labeling efficiency. Labeling did not induce toxicity or affect cell viability or proliferation. The cell distribution as observed with light and fluorescence microscopy matched the signal voids observed in the MRI datasets. Liposomes promote fast, nontoxic and efficient SPIO labeling of myoblasts that can be tracked by MRI microscopy in clinical scanners using susceptibility-weighted protocols.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI using macromolecular contrast media for monitoring the response to isolated limb perfusion in experimental soft-tissue sarcomas.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for quantitative characterization of tumor microvessels and to assess the microvascular changes in response to isolated limb perfusion with TNF-alpha and melphalan. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI was performed in an experimental cancer model, using a macromolecular contrast medium, albumin-(Gd-DTPA)45. Small fragments of BN 175, a soft-tissue sarcoma, were implanted in 11 brown Norway (BN) rats. Animals were assigned randomly to a control (Haemaccel) or drug-treated group (TNF-alpha/melphalan). MRI was performed at baseline and 24 h after ILP. The transendothelial permeability (K(PS)) and the fractional plasma volume (fPV) were estimated from the kinetic analysis of MR data using a two-compartment bi-directional model. K(PS) and fPV decreased significantly in the drug-treated group compared to baseline (p<0.05). In addition, K(PS) post therapy was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the drug-treated group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in fPV between the drug-treated and the control group after therapy. Tumor microvascular changes in response to isolated limb perfusion can be determined after 24 h by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. The data obtained in this experimental model suggest possible applications in the clinical setting, using the appropriate MR contrast agents.

Coronary artery imaging using contrast-enhanced 3D segmented EPI.

The purpose of the work was to evaluate the effectiveness of extracellular contrast media in improving MR coronary angiography using breath-hold segmented echo-planar imaging (SEPI). Two protocols were designed to optimize the inversion recovery-prepared contrast-enhanced SEPI method. In 15 healthy volunteers, significant improvements in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), vessel sharpness, and length of visualization were observed post-contrast. The method with two targeted scans to cover the left and right arteries, respectively, following separate 20-mL contrast injections, was found to yield thinner slices and longer right coronary artery (RCA) visualization than a single scan following a 40-mL contrast injection without compromising SNR and CNR. In conclusion, extracellular contrast media substantially improves the delineation of coronary arteries with SEPI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:676-681.

Coronary arteries: magnetization-prepared contrast-enhanced three-dimensional volume-targeted breath-hold MR angiography.

A volume-targeted contrast agent-enhanced breath-hold coronary magnetic resonance angiographic technique was optimized and evaluated in 16 volunteers. Substantial increases in coronary signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio, lengths of depiction, and vessel sharpness were observed on enhanced images. The imaging approach with two 20-mL injections of contrast agent covers the left and right coronary arteries in two breath holds and is a promising method for coronary imaging.

Volume coronary angiography using targeted scans (VCATS): a new strategy in MR coronary angiography.

The aim of this study was to explore the clinical possibilities of a new strategy for magnetic resonance imaging of the coronary arteries. Thirteen patients were studied by volume coronary angiography using targeted scans (VCATS) to visualize the major coronary arteries in a series of breath-holds. The proximal coronary arteries were clearly seen in 92% and the mid segments in 50-70% of the patients. VCATS was able to visualize a total vessel length of the left main (LM) (mean: 9.4+/-3.4 mm), of the left anterior descending (LAD) 69+/-20 mm, of the right coronary artery (RCA) 90+/-33 mm and of the left circumflex (LCX) 41+/-18 mm. There was a reasonable correlation between the VCATS and conventional coronary angiography (CAG) for vessel diameter (r = 0.71), with a slight overestimation of 0.7 mm by VCATS. There were nine significant stenoses present of which six were correctly detected, three were missed and one false positive was present. VCATS is fast strategy for visualizing the major coronary artery branches and has the potential to detect significant stenoses in these branches.

MR coronary angiography with breath-hold targeted volumes: preliminary clinical results.

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical value of a magnetic resonance (MR) coronary angiography strategy involving a small targeted volume to image one coronary segment in a single breath hold for the detection of greater than 50% stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients referred for elective coronary angiography were included. The coronary arteries were localized during single-breath-hold, three-dimensional imaging of the entire heart. MR coronary angiography was then performed along the major coronary branches with a double-oblique, three-dimensional, gradient-echo sequence. Conventional coronary angiography was the reference-standard method. RESULTS: Adequate visualization was achieved with MR coronary angiography in 85%-91% of the proximal coronary arterial branches and in 38%-76% of the middle and distal branches. Overall, 187 (69%) of 272 segments were suitable for comparison between conventional and MR coronary angiography. The diagnostic accuracy of MR coronary angiography for the detection of hemodynamically significant stenoses was 92%; sensitivity, 68%; and specificity, 97%. The sensitivity in individual segments was 50%-77%, whereas the specificity was 94%-100%. CONCLUSION: Adequate visualization of the major coronary arterial branches was possible in the majority of patients. The observed accuracy of MR coronary angiography for detection of hemodynamically significant coronary arterial stenosis is promising, but it needs to be higher before this modality can be used reliably in a clinical setting.

Coronary arteries.

Coronary angiography (CA) is presently considered the gold standard for the assessment of the coronary arteries. However, the presence of ionizing radiation, its invasiveness and the small associated risk of morbidity prompted long ago the development of more patient-friendly imaging modalities. A promising technique, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), has been regarded as the major modality in the coming decade. Although still in its infancy qualitatively, its flexibility and non-invasiveness opens the door for a comprehensive evaluation of the heart and the coronary arteries in one single sitting with high anatomical definition and excellent soft tissue contrast capabilities, double-oblique tomographic sections and the possibility to quantify an innumerable number of cardiovascular physiological parameters. Numerous ideas have been assessed, comprising breath-hold and free-breathing two-dimensional and three-dimensional measurements. New ongoing trials with intravascular contrast agents may provide for all these techniques the long-awaited essential boost for reliable magnetic resonance coronary angiography (MRCA). Introduction of parallel MRI acquisition techniques, such as simultaneous acquisition of spatial harmonics (SMASH) and sensitivity encoding (SENSE) may provide the speed enhancement required to shorten imaging time for all techniques explored to date.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the coronary arteries: imaging planes and resulting anatomy in two-dimensional imaging.

Magnetic-resonance imaging techniques use different imaging planes than does conventional coronary angiography to acquire longer segments of a coronary artery in a single tomographic slice. At first sight, these planes appear rather puzzling, because the coronary arteries are displayed in unfamiliar orientations. In this article we will review the existing methodology for obtaining the orientations for the proximal coronary arteries and describe the associated anatomical landmarks that can be seen. Additional orientations for the middle segment of the circumflex and distal right coronary artery are introduced. These orientations are used both in various acquisition techniques and for evaluation of three-dimensional data when using multiplanar reformatting.

Basic principles of magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive imaging technique that is becoming more and more important in clinical cardiology. Physicians must understand the basic principles of MRI before reliable use in practice is possible. Therefore, we will give an introduction to basic MRI principles necessary to understand the difficulties of cardiac MRI. First the generation of a signal by the combination of a strong magnetic field, radiofrequency pulses, and temporary changes in the magnetic field is explained. Then, the processes of localization of different points in an image, resolution, and signal-to-noise ratio are highlighted. Finally, the influence of tissue characteristics such as T1 and T2 on the contrast of an image are discussed.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the coronary arteries: techniques and results.

Recently a new noninvasive imaging technique, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been developed that has the potential to assess the coronary arteries. MRI of the coronary arteries is a challenging task because of the motion of the vessels during cardiac contraction and the motion of the heart with respiration. Several two-dimensional and three-dimensional acquisition techniques have been developed to overcome these problems. In this article we will describe different conventional MR techniques such as spin-echo and gradient-echo imaging. Also, we will describe new developments in MRI as ultrafast breathhold techniques using echo planar imaging or targeted volume scanning. Other new developments are respiratory gating techniques with or without respiratory motion correction. Finally, we will review the results of these techniques in the detection of coronary artery bypass graft patency, coronary artery stenosis, and the evaluation of coronary artery anomalies.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the coronary arteries: clinical results from three dimensional evaluation of a respiratory gated technique.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance coronary angiography is challenging because of the motion of the vessels during cardiac contraction and respiration. Additional challenges are the small calibre of the arteries and their complex three dimensional course. Respiratory gating, turboflash acquisition, and volume rendering techniques may meet the necessary requirements for appropriate visualisation. OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of respiratory gated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of significant coronary artery stenoses evaluated with three dimensional postprocessing software. METHODS: 32 patients referred for elective coronary angiography were studied with a retrospective respiratory gated three dimensional gradient echo MRI technique. Resolution was 1.9 x 1.25 x 2 mm. After manual segmentation three dimensional evaluation was performed with a volume rendering technique. RESULTS: Overall 74% (range 50% to 90%) of the proximal and mid coronary artery segments were visualised with an image quality suitable for further analysis. Sensitivity and specificity for the detection of significant stenoses were 50% and 91%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Volume rendering of respiratory gated MRI techniques allows adequate visualisation of the coronary arteries in patients with a regular breathing pattern. Significant lesions in the major coronary artery branches can be identified with a moderate sensitivity and a high specificity.