MR angiography vs CT angiography in the follow-up of nitinol stent grafts in endoluminally treated aortic aneurysms

Eur Radiol. 2002 Oct;12(10):2443-50. doi: 10.1007/s00330-002-1429-8. Epub 2002 Jul 6.

Abstract

Our objective was to evaluate the accuracy of contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography (MRA) in the follow-up of patients with endoluminally treated aortic aneurysms and correlate these findings with uni- or biphasic CT angiography (CTA). Forty MR angiograms in 32 patients with implanted aortic nitinol stent grafts were compared to CTA. Twenty-two MR examinations were correlated with arterial-phase CTA (uniphasic), and 18 MR examinations were correlated with biphasic CTA. Uniphasic CTA demonstrated three type-1/type-3 endoleaks and four reperfusion (type-2) endoleaks. In addition, MRA depicted two type-2 reperfusion endoleaks that were missed by CTA. Using biphasic CTA, two type-1/type-3 endoleaks and three reperfusion (type-2) endoleaks were detected; of those, delayed scanning detected three reperfusion (type-2) endoleaks missed during arterial-phase CTA. In addition to the findings by CTA, MRA depicted another type-2 reperfusion endoleak. Magnetic resonance angiography is at least as sensitive as uni- or biphasic CTA for detecting endoleaks and may consequently offer advantages in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast agents.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alloys
  • Aortic Aneurysm / diagnosis*
  • Aortic Aneurysm / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Aneurysm / surgery
  • Contrast Media
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iliac Aneurysm / diagnosis*
  • Iliac Aneurysm / diagnostic imaging
  • Iliac Aneurysm / surgery
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Prosthesis Failure
  • Stents*
  • Subtraction Technique
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Substances

  • Alloys
  • Contrast Media
  • nitinol