RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of cardiovascular findings in asymptomatic individuals by means of 1.5-T whole-body magnetic resonance imaging and angiography. METHODS: A cohort of 138 individuals (118 men, 20 women) with a mean age of 54 years (SD ± 7.55) was referred to whole-body MRI at 1.5-T, including contrast-enhanced whole-body MR angiography (MRA) and cardiac MRI. A total of 2,065/2,070 vessel segments (99.8%) and cardiac function were evaluated. RESULTS: Approximately one-fourth of the participating individuals had vascular abnormalities. In 17 subjects (12.3% of all subjects) significant luminal narrowing was observed in at least one vascular segment. Luminal narrowing (mild to severe) was observed in 1 (0.7% of all subjects respectively) of the renal arteries, 7 (5.0%) of the carotid arteries, and 3 (2.2%) of the pelvic and upper leg arteries, and in 17 segments (12.3%) of arteries in the lower leg. In cardiac function and perfusion imaging, wall motion disorders were observed in six patients (4.3%), with additional delayed enhancement and isolated delayed enhancement present in two cases. Functional parameters differed from reference values in 55 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Even in an asymptomatic cohort of middle-aged predominantly male individuals, atherosclerotic disease is not uncommon and is detectable by whole-body MRI. MAIN MESSAGES: ⢠In middle-aged predominantly male individuals, atherosclerotic disease is not uncommon. ⢠Even in an asymptomatic collective, approximately one fourth had vascular abnormalities. ⢠Using whole-body MR angiography (MRA), 99.8% of 2,070 vessel segments could be evaluated.
RESUMO
PURPOSE: To create a whole-body cardiovascular MRI protocol with parallel imaging (iPAT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty two persons participated in the whole body scan. Due to iPAT high resolution imaging of the heart could be performed. 3D contrast enhanced MR angiography (3D-CE-MRA) took only 62 s to cover the whole body at a spatial resolution of less than 1.4x1.0x1.5mm(3). Scan time for HASTE lung imaging could be reduced by the factor of 2 while maintaining the signal to noise ratio (SNR). Image quality was rated by 2 radiologists blinded to each other. RESULTS: Mean scan time was 104 min on the standard system and less than 80 min on the new system. 75% of all MRA segments were rated good in terms of vessel conspicuity, more than 80% had no venous overlay. One case of distal occlusion of the anterior tibial artery and two cases of myocardial infarction were detected. CONCLUSION: Parallel imaging offers the possibility of fast whole body imaging. A combination of morphologic and functional imaging can be performed within less than 80 min.