Purpose
To compare the ability of the 1.5 Tesla (1.5T) versus the 3 Tesla (3T) MRI in detecting the internal iliac artery (IIA) branches in females before UAE using 3D-reconstructed Contrast-Enhanced MR-Angiography (CE-MRA).
Methods and Materials
Pre-embolization contrast enhanced MR angiographic studies from 71 females (mean age: 45 years +/- 5, Range: 30-56) who underwent Uterine Artery Embolization for uterine fibroids.Evaluations were retrospectively done by two radiologists in consensus.All patients underwent MR imaging, including CE-MRA as a part of the pre-interventional work-up.MRA studies were performed using either a 1.5T system (n=49, 98 IIA) or a 3T System (n=22, 44 IIA)MRI system (Magnetom Symphony or Magnetom Trio; Siemens Medical Systems, Erlangen, Germany) using a body-array-coil.Anun-enhanced 3D-FLASH sequence(TE/TR=1.28/3.66; FA 25°, slice thickness 1.2mm;...
Results
Branch1.5 TeslaSensitivity3 TeslaSensitivityDifference p value *Superior Gluteal Artery110.56Inferior Gluteal Artery110.5Lateral Sacral Artery0.8910.11Iliolumbar Artery0.860.980.06Obturator Artery0.830.950.02Internal Pudendal Artery0.9810.17Uterine Artery0.9710.07Superior Vesical Artery0.210.480.005Middle Rectal Artery0.110.270.06 * Statistical analysis using Mantel Haensel Test. Level of statistical significance set to p<0.05
Conclusion
3D reconstructed contrast enhanced MRA performed on a 3 Tesla MRI system can detect all of the branches of the internal iliac artery in females with a high sensitivity. No statistically significant difference was noted between both systems regarding the detection of all IIA branches except the obturator & superior vesical arteries in which the 3T showed superior performance.
References
Glockner JF. Three-dimensional Gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography: applications for abdominal imaging. Radiographics. 2001;21:357–370.Pelage JP, Le Dref O, Soyer P, et al. Arterial anatomy of the female genital tract: variations and relevance to transcatheter embolization of the uterus. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1999;172:989–994Naguib NN, Nour-Eldin NE, Lehnert T, et al. Uterine artery embolization: optimization with preprocedural prediction of the best tube angle obliquity by using 3D-reconstructed contrast-enhanced MR angiography. Radiology. 2009 Jun;251(3):788-95.Naguib NN, Nour-Eldin NE, Hammerstingl RM, et al. Three-dimensional reconstructed contrast-enhanced MR angiography for internal iliac...
Personal Information
Nagy N.N. Naguib, MSCInstitute for Diagnostic and Interventional RadiologyJohann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtTheodor-Stern-Kai 760590 Frankfurt am Main (Germany)Tel.: +49 (0) 69 6301 87200E-mail:
[email protected]