Application of TWIST MR angiography to aid successful central venous access in challenging patients: initial single-centre experience

Abstract

Aim: To investigate whether time-resolved angiography with interleaved stochastic trajectories (TWIST) with GeneRalised Autocalibrating Partially Parallel Acquisitions (GRAPPA) parallel acquisition could be used successfully to non-invasively and efficiently image patients with more complex vascular access issues.

Materials and methods: TWIST magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the GRAPPA algorithm was performed on 15 patients at our centre using the 1.5 T Siemens Magnetom Avanto MRI system. Images were interpreted by cardiac radiologists.

Results: TWIST provided excellent dynamic imaging of the venous system, demonstrating venous occlusion, stenoses, and collaterals, as well as providing good anatomical detail.

Conclusion: TWIST MRA enables successful identification of candidate sites for central/tunnelled line access, whilst diagnosing complications of long-term access such as venous thrombosis or congenital venous anomalies.