J Korean Soc Magn Reson Med.  2012 Aug;16(2):152-158. 10.13104/jksmrm.2012.16.2.152.

Contrast Enhanced Cerebral MR Venography: Comparison between Arterial and Venous Triggering Methods

• Jang M
• Choi HS
• Jung SL
• Ahn KJ
• Kim BS

• KMID: 2099849
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13104/jksmrm.2012.16.2.152

Abstract

PURPOSE
To compare the arterial and venous detection sites of triggering methods in contrast-enhanced-MR-venography (CE-MRV) for the evaluation of intracranial venous system.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
41 healthy patients underwent CE-MRV with autotriggering at either the cavernous segment of internal carotid artery with an inserted time-delay of 6 seconds (n = 20) or the superior sagittal sinus without any time-delay (n = 21). 0.1 mmol/kg gadolinium-based contrast material (Magnevist(R), Schering, Germany) was intravenously injected by hand injection. A sagittal fast-spoiled-gradient-echo-sequence ranging from one ear to the other was performed (TR/TE5.2/1.5, Matrix 310x310, 124 sections in the 15-cm-thick volume). 17 predefined venous structures were evaluated on all venograms by two neuroradiologists and defined as completely visible, partially visible, or none visible.
RESULTS
The rate of completely visible structures were 272 out of 323 (84%) in the arterial triggering CE-MRV and 310 out of 340 (91%) in the venous triggering CE-MRV. The venous triggering CE-MRV demonstrated an overall superior visualization of the cerebral veins than the arterial triggering CE-MRV (Fisher exact test, p < 0.006).
CONCLUSION
CE-MRV using venous autotriggering method provides higher-quality images of the intracranial venous structures compared to that of arterial.

Keyword

Contrast-enhanced MR angiography; Cerebral Vein; Contrast enhanced cerebral MR venography; Comparison between arterial and venous triggering methods

MeSH Terms

Carotid Artery, Internal
Caves
Cerebral Veins
Ear
Hand
Humans
Superior Sagittal Sinus

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Coronal (a) and sagittal (b) MIP images of contrast enhanced MR venography obtained with arterial triggering and 6 seconds of inserted time-delay.

• 

  Fig. 2 MIP images obtainedwith (a) coronal and (b) sagittal MR venography with venous triggering at superior sagittal sinus without time-delay.

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