Effect of injection rate on contrast‐enhanced MR angiography image quality: Modulation transfer function analysis

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Abstract
Purpose: Contrast‐enhanced (CE)‐MRA optimization involves interactions of sequence duration, bolus timing, contrast recirculation, and both R1 relaxivity and ‐related reduction of signal. Prior data suggest superior image quality with slower gadolinium injection rates than typically used.Methods: A computer‐based model of CE‐MRA was developed, with contrast injection, physiologic, and image acquisition parameters varied over a wide gamut. Gadolinium concentration was derived using Verhoeven's model with recirculation, R1 and calculated at each time point, and modulation transfer curves used to determine injection rates, resulting in optimal resolution and image contrast for renal and carotid artery CE‐MRA. Validation was via a vessel stenosis phantom and example patients who underwent carotid CE‐MRA with low effective injection rates.Results: Optimal resolution for renal and carotid CE‐MRA is achieved with injection rates between 0.5 to 0.9 mL/s and 0.2 to 0.3 mL/s, respectively, dependent on contrast volume. Optimal image contrast requires slightly faster injection rates. Expected signal‐to‐noise ratio varies with both contrast volume and cardiac output. Simulated vessel phantom and clinical carotid CE‐MRA exams at an effective contrast injection rate of 0.4 to 0.5 mL/s demonstrate increased resolution.Conclusion: Optimal image resolution is achieved at intuitively low, effective injection rates (0.2–0.9 mL/s, dependent on imaging parameters and contrast injection volume). Magn Reson Med 78:357–369, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
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  • Bracco Diagnostics

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