Clinical Application Of Smart-prep Elliptical-centric Contrast-enhanced MRA In The Diagnosis Of Carotid Artery Stenosis

Objective: To study the clinical value of smart-prep elliptical-centric contrast-enhanced MRA in the diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis and to explore the advantages of the smart-prep elliptical-centric CE-MRA technique. Methods: Among 44 patients examined smart-prep elliptical-centric contrast-enhanced MRA for suspected having carotid artery stenosis, all of them underwent 3D TOF-MRA. Among 44 patients, DSA was carried out in 21 cases and subsequent operation was performed in 7 cases. The 26 cases diagnosis was compared with the DSA and operation which are always the "gold standard". Result: All 44 cases get clear pictures and all diseased arteries were well demonstrated by smart-prep elliptical-centric contrast-enhanced MRA. 855 arterial segments of 44 cases were shown by 3D TOF-MRA (visibility was 92.5%.). Based on DSA and operation as standard in 32 arterial segments of 26 cases examined smart-prep elliptical-centric contrast-enhanced MRA, the rate of accordance was 87.5%(28/32); the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 100%, 88.2%, 93.8% and 100% respectively. Also Based on DSA and operation as standard in 32 arterial segments of 26 cases examined 3D TOF-MRA, the rate of accordance was 75%(24/32); the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 96.7%,82.4%%,90.6% and 93.3% respectively. Conclusion: Compared with DSA and operation, there is excellent correlation among smart-prep elliptical-centric contrast-enhanced MRA, DSA and operation. smart-prep elliptical-centric contrast-enhanced MRA can accurately and entirely assess carotid artery stenosis. It is a atraumatic,reliable and potential new technique.