Pseudostenosis of the internal carotid artery in 3D time-of-flight MR angiography: effects of a magnetization transfer contrast pulse and metallic material

• Published in: European radiology Vol. 13; no. 10; pp. 2298 - 2303
• Main Authors: Naganawa, Shinji, Koshikawa, Tokiko, Sato, Kimihide, Katagiri, Toshio, Mimura, Takeo, Ishigaki, Takeo, Aoki, Ikuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Springer Nature B.V 01.10.2003
• Subjects: Adult; Carotid Artery, Internal - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Stenosis - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Stenosis - pathology; Contrast Media; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Linear Energy Transfer; Magnetic Resonance Angiography - methods; Male; Medical imaging; Middle Aged; Radiography; Sampling Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Severity of Illness Index
• ISSN: 0938-7994; 1432-1084
• DOI: 10.1007/s00330-003-1860-5

Pseudostenosis or pseudoocclusion of the internal carotid artery in 3D time-of-flight MR angiography has been reported to be caused by susceptibility artifacts due to the presence of a metallic foreign body in the subject's neck. We experimentally demonstrate that the use of a non-slice-selective magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) pulse increases the degree of pseudostenosis, whereas slice-selective MTC does not. Selective MR angiography demonstrating this phenomenon was also performed. We then report a case that exhibited this phenomenon. We conclude that the magnetic field inhomogeneity induced by metallic material causes the non-slice-selective MTC pulse to act as a local presaturation pulse. Selective MR angiography using this phenomenon can be applied on varieties of MR scanners from different vendors.