8th Baltic Congress of Radiology

Thoracic Radiology

oral abstract

The aorta is the largest artery in the body. Early diagnosis of the aortic diseases can prevent life-threatening conditions. One of the diagnostic imaging modalities is magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). It is a form of magnetic resonance imaging that provides anatomical, functional and pathological information about the cardiovascular system and can be divided into two main types: contrast and non-contrast. The purpose of this paper is to share the experience of a radiologic technologist in performing MRA examinations of the aorta and to give an overview about different examination options of the aorta in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on the example of the North Estonia Medical Centre.

This paper describes three most commonly used contrast-enhanced techniques in the North Estonia Medical Centre, which are Continuously moving table MRA (CT-MRA), Time-resolved angiography With Interleaved Stochastic Trajectories (TWIST) and Electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated MRI + MRA. Also there are other types of MRA, such as single-station MRA, multi-station MRA and MRA for stented aorta. Since CT-MRA and TWIST have more advantages, single-station and multi-station MRA are currently not used. The all information is based on diagnostic protocols of the North Estonia Medical Centre including personal experience of radiologic technologists and radiologists.

The paper gives an overview about three main MRA techniques as well as other MRA methods used in the North Estonia Medical Centre, including advantages and disadvantages of MRA, indications for examination, patient preparation and positioning, radiologic technologist’s responsibilities along with planning and performing MRA.

Nowadays there are several contrast and non-contrast techniques of MRA, allowing to evaluate aortic diseases. Type of MRA examination should be considered in each case individually depending on the examination purpose, patient medical history and condition. Information provided in this paper could be applied in practice in medical institutions and be useful for radiologic technologists and radiologists.

Magnetic resonance angiography is one of the diagnostic imaging modalities for evaluating the aorta that provides anatomical, functional and pathological information. The paper gives an overview about different techniques used in the North Estonia Medical Centre, advantages and disadvantages of MRA and radiologic technologist’s role, including patient preparation, positioning, MRA planning and performing.

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