Suppression of venous signal in time-of-flight MR angiography of the lower extremities after administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine

PURPOSE: To evaluate a magnetic resonance (MR) angiography time-of-flight technique that can effectively suppress venous signal after gadopentetate dimeglumine administration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve adult patients underwent MR angiography for the evaluation of peripheral vascular disease. Gradient-echo sequences were performed after the administration of 0.2 mmol/kg gadopentetate dimeglumine. Three sequences were compared: a nontriggered sequence; a gap sequence, an electrocardiographically triggered, segmented sequence with a 7-mm gap between saturation and imaging sections; and a no-gap sequence, a similar sequence as gap but with partially overlapping imaging and saturation sections. For each sequence, identical regions of interest were generated for arterial, venous, and background muscle tissue and noise. A paired Student t test was used to compare the signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios (C/Ns) among the sequences. In seven patients, the no-gap sequence was used to acquire MR angiograms of the distal lower extremities. RESULTS: The mean artery-muscle C/N was similar for the triggered sequences; both were statistically significantly greater than the ratios for the nontriggered sequence. Venous suppression was much better with the no-gap sequence. Overall, the best artery-vein C/N was also obtained with the no-gap sequence. MR angiograms with effective venous suppression could be obtained only with the no-gap sequence. CONCLUSION: Time-of-flight MR angiograms can be obtained with effective venous suppression after the administration of 0.2 mmol/kg gadopentetate dimeglumine.