Coronary artery imaging with real-time navigator three-dimensional contrast enhanced MR coronary angiography

Objective: To evaluate the value of real-time navigator three-dimensional contrast enhanced MR coronary angiography. Methods: Real-time navigator three-dimensional contrast enhanced MR coronary angiography was performed in twenty cases, the major coronary arteries were acquired after post-processing. The images of the major coronary arteries were evaluated with signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and observe the demonstration of the major coronary arteries and branches. Results: Of twenty cases, real-time navigator three-dimensional contrast enhanced MR coronary angiography were successfully performed in eighteen cases. SNR and CNR were 26.37 ± 7.02, 14.76 ± 6.97 before contrast enhancement vs 38.87 ± 11.62, 33.72 ± 10.80 after contrast enhancement, respectively. Statistical differences were significant between them (P<0.05). The demonstration of proximal and middle of the major coronary branches, including left coronary (left main branch and left anterior descending branches), right coronary and left circumflex branch were 100%, and distal of them were 94.4%, 88.8%, and 77.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Better SNR and CNR can be achieved with real-time navigator three-dimensional contrast enhanced MR coronary angiography, more researches should be done before application in clinics. (authors)