[3 T MRI imaging methods in the study of contrast-enhanced Adamkiewicz Artery].

Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) is a common method for imaging the Adamkiewicz Artery (AKA). Test-bolus imaging methods have long been the mainstream, and recently, a time resolved technique (4D-MRA) is also reported. However, the current rates of detection for both are mixed, and the best method has not been established yet. For AKA, the present rate is 72% left, Th8～L1 91% that exists between, with a vessel diameter of 0.5 to 1.5 mm. Additionally, the AKA branch is known to have large individual differences, and thus, a wide range of high spatial resolution imaging. At our institution from January 2009, a 3 T system is installed, and 4D-MRA (time-resolved angiography with interleaved stochastic trajectories: TWIST) imaging became possible. TWIST is a sequence to balance the temporal resolution and spatial resolution, and is considered optimal for the imaging of AKA. In accordance with this idea, the first group of seven patients was imaged by TWIST, but in all cases, the results were not depicting AKA. In subsequent cases, the technique was changed to a 3D-gradient echo sequence with a Bolus-tracking method (Care bolus), and good results were obtained. In conclusion, AKA TWIST was not thought to depict the relationship between specific parameters. When using TWIST for imaging AKA, we will need to find out why it was not visualized, by examining AKA with simulated vessel phantoms, TWIST and Care Bolus. Furthermore, we report on our visual evaluation of the Retrospective clinical pictures.