Preliminary clinical application of contrast-enhanced MR angiography using 3D time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics (3D-TRICKS)

ObjectiveTo introduce a new better contrast-enhanced MR angiographic method, named 3D time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics (3D-TRICKS).MethodsTRICKS is a high temporal resolution (2-6 s) MR angiographic technique using a short TR(4 ms) and TE(1.5 ms), partial echo sampling, in which central part of k-space is updated more frequently than the peripheral part. TRICKS pre-contrast mask 3D images are firstly scanned, and then the bolus injecting of Gd-DTPA, 15-20 sequential 3D images are acquired. The reconstructed 3D images, subtraction of contrast 3D images with mask images, are conceptually similar to a catheter-based intra-arterial digital subtraction angiographic series (DSA). Thirty patients underwent contrast-enhanced MR angiography using 3D-TRICKS.ResultsTotally 12 vertebral arteries were well displayed on TRICKS, in which 7 were normal, 1 demonstrated bilateral vertebral artery stenosis, 4 had unilateral vertebral artery stenosis and 1 was accompanied with the same lateral carotid artery bifurcation stenosis. Four cases of bilateral renal arteries were normal, 1 transplanted kidney artery showed as normal and 1 transplanted kidney artery showed stenosis. 2 cerebral arteries were normal, 1 had sagittal sinus thrombosis and 1 displayed intracranial arteriovenous malformation. 3 pulmonary arteries were normal, 1 showed pulmonary artery thrombosis and 1 revealed pulmonary sequestration's abnormal feeding artery and draining vein. One left lower limb fibrolipoma showed feeding artery. One displayed radial-ulnar artery artificial fistula stenosis. One revealed left antebrachium hemangioma.ConclusionIt TRICKS can clearly delineate most body vascular system and reveal most vascular abnormality. It possesses convenience and high successful rate, which make it the first choice of displaying most vascular abnormality.