Contrast Enhanced MR Angiography of the Thoracic Aorta: Comparison of ECG-Gated Techniques at 3T

Ruth P. Lim¹, Ryan Avery², Mary Bruno², David Mossa², Gary McNeal³, Yutaka Natsuaki³, Monvadi B. Srichai²

Competing demands of high spatial resolution and short (breath-hold) acquisition times are challenging for ECG-gated contrast enhanced thoracic MRA. We compare two ECG-gated contrast enhanced MRA techniques, one that employs a standard Cartesian acquisition of one partition per heartbeat, and a recently developed technique that uses a zigzag sampling approach in the ky - kz plane for improved scanning efficiency and co-ordination of contrast timing with the cardiac phase of the acquisition. We describe our initial experience in a clinical population.