Background:
CT coronary angiography is widely used to assess the presence of significant coronary artery disease (CAD). However, CT approach is associated with low but nonnegligible cancer risk. The purpose of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the ability to identify patients with significant CAD compared with coronary angiography.
Materials and Methods:
The subjects were recruited from 7 institutions. Free breathing coronary MR angiograms covering the entire coronary artery tree were obtained in 138 patients who were suspicious of CAD. Non-contrast enhanced images were acquired with a commercial 1.5T MR imager and five-element cardiac coils after sublingual administration of isosorbide dinitrate. Conventional X-ray coronary angiography was performed within 4 weeks after coronary MRA. MR and X-ray angiograms were sent to a core laboratory for blinded interpretation. Coronary MR angiograms were evaluated by two experienced investigators by using sliding partial MIP reconstruction. Quantitative X-ray coronary angiography analysis was performed with significant CAD defined as luminal narrowing of at least 50% of the diameter.
Results:
The mean imaging time of coronary MRA was 9.5 ± 4.9 minutes. The prevalence of significant disease on X-ray angiography was 45% (62/138). On a vessel-based analysis, the area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the MRA compared with X-ray angiography was 0.90 (95% CI; 0.86 to 0.93). On a patient based analysis, the ROC area was 0.88 (95% CI; 0.81– 0.93). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of coronary MRA by vessel analysis were 78% (95% CI; 68 – 86%), 86% (82–90%), 60% (51– 69%), 94% (90–96%). These values by patient analysis were 87% (95% CI; 76–94%), 71% (59 – 81%), 71% (59 – 81%), 87% (76–94%).
Conclusions:
In the current multicenter study using commercial 1.5T MR imagers and sliding partial MIP reconstruction, the diagnostic accuracy of coronary MRA compared to quantitative coronary angiography is good, reflected by an ROC area of 0.88 on patient-based analysis. High negative predictive value indicates that coronary MRA can be used for screening CAD.
3T contrast-enhanced whole heart coronary MRA using 32-channel cardiac coils for the detection of coronary artery disease
