Quantitative human in vivo evaluation of high resolution MRI for vessel wall morphometry after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty

Visualization of the vessel wall after transluminal angioplasty is important to monitor the restenosis progress. Intravascular ultrasound proved its capabilities as an invasive procedure in many studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of high-resolution MRI as a non-invasive tool for follow-up after PTA. High-resolution magnetic resonance images (pixel size: 0.49 * 0.49 mm(2)) were acquired on a 1.0 T clinical scanner. Morphometry was conducted after conversion of DICOM images into TIFF format using ScionImage on a PC. In-vitro studies using a polyvinylchloride tube were evaluated by two independent investigators. Goldstandard was a caliper rule and direct radiography. Five patients were monitored before and 24 h, six weeks, three months and six months after PTA. In vivo measurements promised a good concordance for both investigators for area as well as for diameter measurements. Area measurements showed correlations up to r = 0.86 (p < 0.001) whereas the correlations of diameters were slightly inferior (r between 0.58 and 0.84; p < 0.005). Relocation of the same slice position in the follow up studies could be guaranteed using anatomic landmarks in the images. As a non-invasive tool to assess restenosis after PTA high-resolution MRI promises to be a reproducible technique. It is easy to identify the same vascular region in different studies due to neighboring anatomic landmarks. Progression of disease as well as success of pharmacologic treatment to prevent restenosis may be monitored.