This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 105/15/1772    most recent 01.CIR.0000015852.60212.DBv1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Buecker, A. Articles by Günther, R. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Buecker, A. Articles by Günther, R. W. Related Collections CT and MRI

(Circulation. 2002;105:1772.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.

Brief Rapid Communications

Artifact-Free In-Stent Lumen Visualization by Standard Magnetic Resonance Angiography Using a New Metallic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Stent

Arno Buecker, MD; Elmar Spuentrup, MD; Alexander Ruebben, MD; Rolf W. Günther, MD

From the Clinic of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Technology Aachen, Germany.

Correspondence to Arno Buecker, MD, Clinic of Diagnostic Radiology, Pauwelsstr 30, 52057 Aachen, Germany. E-mail buecker{at}rad.rwth-aachen.de

	Abstract

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusions References

 
Background— Metallic stents cause susceptibility and radiofrequency artifacts on MR images, which, up to now, have not allowed for complete visualization of the stent lumen by MR angiography. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of a new dedicated renal MRI stent for artifact-free in-stent lumen visualization in vitro and in a swine model.

Methods and Results— In vitro investigations were performed with prototypes of balloon-expandable Aachen Resonance Renal MRI Stents dilated to diameters of 3 to 6 mm and placed in an aqueous gadolinium solution (1:25). Phase-contrast and contrast-enhanced T₁-weighted gradient echo images were acquired. Renal MRI stents (n=12) were deployed in the renal arteries of 6 pigs. Renal arteries were examined with phase-contrast angiography and with flow measurements before and after stent placement in the stented area, respectively. Additionally, a contrast-enhanced, T₁-weighted, spoiled-gradient echo sequence after administration of 0.2 mmol gadolinium-DTPA/kg body weight was performed after stent placement. The visibility of artifacts was analyzed on in vitro and in vivo images by two investigators who knew the stent positions. Stent positions were determined visually (in vitro) or by x-ray angiography (animal experiments). No artifacts were detected independent of the applied imaging sequence and the stent orientation to the main magnetic field.

Conclusion— The examined prototypes of fully MR-compatible MRI stents allow artifact-free visualization of the stent lumen with phase-contrast and contrast-enhanced T₁-weighted angiography, as well as phase-contrast flow measurements in the stented area.

Key Words: magnetic resonance imaging • angiography • stents

	Introduction

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusions References

 
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is increasingly replacing diagnostic x-ray angiography in virtually all vascular territories. In particular, the advent of contrast-enhanced MRA has led to substantial increases in image quality and diagnostic accuracy. So far, however, MRA has not been able to reliably visualize the lumen of metallic stents,^1–3 and consequently, only indirect follow-up of in-stent-restenosis can be made by MR imaging. This is due to susceptibility artifacts and radiofrequency shielding of metallic stents.² Although nitinol causes smaller artifacts compared with stainless steel, even nitinol stents are not artifact free on MR images.⁴ We examined fully MR-compatible prototypes of Aachen Resonance Renal MRI Stents to determine their potential for artifact-free in-stent lumen visualization with different MRA techniques.

	Methods

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusions References

 
Four prototypes of Aachen Resonance Renal MRI Stents (Aachen Resonance, Aachen, Germany) were dilated to diameters of 3 to 6 mm in 1-mm steps. The stents were made of a special MR alloy consisting to >90% of copper, designed to minimize susceptibility artifacts. The stents were placed in a physiological saline solution with gadolinium (Magnevist, Schering) (1:25) and imaged with phase-contrast (sequence parameters as given below, except for simulated ECG signal)⁵ and T₁-weighted gradient echo angiography sequences (sequence parameters as given below) on a 1.5T Intera MR scanner (Philips Medical Systems). Each sequence was performed with the stents oriented 0°, 45°, and 90° to the main magnetic field B₀. The MR images were independently examined by two investigators who knew the position of the stents placed in the water-bath phantom, and the images were graded according to the presence of large artifacts (stent lumen totally obscured), small artifact (subtotal narrowing of the stent lumen), or no artifact. Additionally, the signal intensities of the water bath without and with stent were measured.

Approval for the animal experiments was obtained from the Official Committee for Animal Affairs of the German government. Experiments were performed on 6 domestic pigs with an average body weight of 55 kg (range, 48 to 61 kg). A premedication of 0.5 mL atropine/10 kg body weight, 2 mL azaperone/10 kg body weight, and 1 mL ketamine/10 kg body weight was applied intramuscularly. Pentobarbital diluted 1:3 with saline solution was injected as needed via a venous access line placed in an ear vein. The animals were intubated and mechanically ventilated.

Before stent placement, a diastolic-triggered 3D phase-contrast angiography was performed (repetition time [TR], 20 ms; echo time [TE], 7 ms; flip angle, 20°; field of view [FOV], 170x120 mm²; matrix, 128x256; slice thickness, 1.5 mm; 50% slice overlap; 40 axial slices; diastolic ECG gating with an acquisition window of 300 ms; and maximum flow velocity, 30 cm/s).⁵ With the use of the axial images and the calculated maximum intensity projections (MIPs) in the coronal plane, velocity-encoded cine phase-contrast flow measurements (TR, 5.8 ms; TE, 3.6 ms; flip angle, 15°; FOV, 350x175 mm²; matrix 128x256; slice thickness, 5 mm; ECG gating, acquisition of 30 phases of the cardiac cycle; maximum flow velocity, 50 cm/s; 2 signal averages) were performed perpendicular to the course of the renal arteries in the area in which the stent was going to be deployed. Afterward, 12 balloon-mounted Aachen Resonance Renal MRI Stents were placed in the left and right renal arteries of 6 pigs. One stent was placed distally in a first segment branch and dilated to 3 mm. All other stents were placed in the main stem of the renal arteries. One of these stents was dilated with a 6-mm and one with a 7-mm balloon, whereas all other stents were dilated with a 5-mm balloon. Stent positions were documented on x-ray angiography. Orientation of the stents to the main magnetic field B₀ were determined on these images assuming a parallel course of the aorta and B₀, yielding stent angulations ranging from 36° to 89° (mean 64°).

After stent placement, phase-contrast angiography was repeated. Flow measurements were performed through 10 stents. In two cases, flow measurement was not possible because of a corrupted optical disc. Additionally, a contrast-enhanced T₁-weighted gradient echo sequence (TR, 5.4 ms; TE, 1.44 ms; flip angle, 40°; FOV, 450x315 mm²; matrix, 128x512; slice thickness, 1.5 mm; 50% overlap; 50 coronal slices) was acquired with the use of automatic bolus tracking to start the imaging sequence. A double dose of Omniscan (Nycomed) (0.2 mmol/kg body weight) was applied for the MR angiography, and MIPs were calculated.

The calculated MIPs of the phase-contrast and contrast-enhanced angiographies were analyzed by two investigators with regard to the occurrence of artifacts (large or small) or absence of artifacts in the stented area. The regions of stent placement were determined on the digital subtraction angiography images. The Pearson correlation coefficients of the maximum and minimum flow velocities as determined by ECG-triggered phase-contrast MR imaging before and after stent placement were calculated, as well as the slopes of the corresponding regression lines. To investigate possible radiofrequency artifacts, signal intensities in the stents and proximal to them were measured for the gadolinium-enhanced MRA. The values inside and outside the stents were compared by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient and the slope of the corresponding regression line.

	Results

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusions References

 
Independent of the diameter and orientation to the main magnetic field, all stents were judged to show artifacts neither on the in vitro nor on in vivo images of the phase-contrast and gradient echo images (Figure 1). The average signal intensity as measured in the area of the stent and without stent during in vitro experiments was 1845 and 1890 for the T₁ gradient echo and 1479 and 1480 for the phase-contrast sequence. The Pearson correlation coefficients of the maximum and minimum flow velocities as measured by phase-encoded MR imaging were r=0.99 and r=0.96, respectively. The slopes of the corresponding regression lines were 1.1 and 0.98, respectively. Comparison of the signal intensities inside and outside the stents yielded a correlation coefficient of r=0.99, with a slope of the corresponding regression line of 0.98.

View larger version (125K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. X-ray angiography of the renal arteries shows the position of the Aachen Resonance Renal MRI Stents in both renal arteries after dilatation with a 5-mm balloon (A, arrows). The corresponding MIPs of a contrast-enhanced 3D T1-weighted gradient echo (B) and 3D phase-contrast MR angiographies before (C) and after stent placement (D) show no stent artifacts, allowing clear visualization of both stent lumina (arrows).

	Discussion

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusions References

 
Because of its noninvasive nature and high image quality, MRA rapidly is becoming the standard diagnostic imaging method for almost all vascular territories. One major drawback of the technique is the inability to sufficiently visualize the inner lumen of stents. This is a result of the different susceptibilities of the metals used for stents compared with human tissue, which causes so-called susceptibility artifacts.^4,6 Radiofrequency shielding of the stents reduces the excitation angle inside the stents, causing additional signal loss.^4,6 Despite the fact that nitinol stents show fewer artifacts compared with stainless steel stents, even nitinol stents cause artifacts that are usually too large to allow the evaluation of in-stent restenosis by MRA.⁴ Only with large-diameter nitinol stents in the iliac arteries have sufficiently small artifacts been reported to allow for diagnostic follow-up, either by standard MRA⁷ or by increasing the excitation angle of the MRA sequence.⁸ One further advantage of iliac artery compared with renal artery stents is their orientation almost parallel to the axis of the main magnetic field, which is known to reduce susceptibility artifacts.^3,4,6 Stainless steel stents, such as those usually used for the rigid stenoses of renal arteries, do not allow direct visualization of the stent lumen.

In the present study, we examined hand-woven prototypes of Aachen Resonance Renal MRI Stents (Figure 2) made of a special metallic alloy with a high copper content to reduce susceptibility and radiofrequency artifacts. In vitro experiments with standard phase-contrast and contrast-enhanced MRA sequences showed no stent artifacts, even for a stent orientation perpendicular to B₀, which in general causes the largest susceptibility artifacts.⁴ These promising in vitro results were further investigated in an animal model by placing the MRI stents in the renal arteries of pigs. No stent artifacts or signal reduction inside the stents were seen on either the phase-contrast or the contrast-enhanced T₁-weighted MRA (Figure 1) independent of the orientation of the stents to B₀ or the diameter of the balloon used for stent deployment. This allows the conclusion that the lumen and consequently in-stent restenosis of the MRI stents could become detectable by standard MRA. Stents have been shown to corrupt the results of velocity-encoded phase-contrast imaging,⁹ although recently, flow measurements were performed successfully in large nitinol stents placed in pulmonary arteries.¹⁰ In our case, the lack of stent artifacts made the direct measurement of flow inside the small MRI stents possible, as proved by the good correlation of maximum and minimum flow measured by 2D cine velocity-encoded phase-contrast imaging. The size of susceptibility artifacts is related to the echo time of the MR sequence. The gradient system of our MR scanner (21 mT/m) allowed an echo time of 1.44 ms, and even the substantially longer echo time of the phase-contrast angiography sequence (7 ms) caused no detectable susceptibility artifacts. Therefore, it can be expected that the MRI stents will remain artifact free with other imaging sequences, such as vessel wall imaging. The investigated MRI-compatible stents are virtually invisible on MR images, showing neither susceptibility nor radiofrequency artifacts.

View larger version (91K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. Hand-woven prototype of the Aachen Resonance Renal MRI stent (length 10 mm, diameter 6 mm).

Another approach for MR imaging in the presence of stents is to use actively tuned stents as antenna.¹¹ Further experiments will have to show whether the possible advantage of imaging the arterial wall with a stent used as an antenna close to it will prove more feasible and advantageous compared with the simpler approach of creating stents out of an MR-invisible alloy, which does not require additional capacitors to be tuned, as for the active approach. The handmade prototypes lacked a radial force comparable to standard stainless steel stents, a problem that might be overcome by lasering of the stents.

	Conclusions

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusions References

 
The prototype Aachen Resonance Renal MRI Stent allows artifact-free MR imaging of the renal arteries, enabling direct visualization of the stent lumen by phase-contrast and gadolinium-enhanced MRA as well as flow measurement directly inside the stent.

	Footnotes

 
Drs Buecker and Ruebben are cofounders of Aachen Resonance Company, which provided the Aachen Resonance Renal MRI Stents used in this study.

Received January 8, 2002; revision received February 21, 2002; accepted February 25, 2002.

	References

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusions References

 

1. Maintz D, Kugel H, Schellhammer F, et al. In vitro evaluation of intravascular stent artifacts in three-dimensional MR angiography. Invest Radiol. 2001; 36: 218–224.
   
2. Bartels LW, Smits HF, Bakker CJ, et al. MR imaging of vascular stents: effects of susceptibility, flow, and radiofrequency eddy currents. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2001; 12: 365–371.
   
3. Lenhart M, Volk M, Manke C, et al. Stent appearance at contrast-enhanced MR angiography: in vitro examination with 14stents. Radiology. 2000; 217: 173–178.
   
4. Meyer JM, Buecker A, Schuermann K, et al. MR evaluation of stent patency: in vitro test of 22 metallic stents and the possibility of determining their patency by MR angiography. Invest Radiol. 2000; 35: 739–746.
   
5. Haan de MW, Kouwenhoven M, Thelissen GRP, et al. Renovascular disease in patients with hypertension: detection with systolic and diastolic gating in three-dimensional, phase contrast MR angiography. Radiology. 1996; 198: 449–456.
   
6. Klemm T, Duda S, Machann J, et al. MR imaging in the presence of vascular stents: A systematic assessment of artifacts for various stent orientations, sequence types, and field strengths. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2000; 12: 606–615.
   
7. Juergens KU, Tombach B, Reimer P, et al. Three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR angiography of endovascular covered stents in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2001; 176: 1299–1303.
   
8. Meyer JM, Buecker A, Spuentrup E, et al. Improved in-stent magnetic resonance angiography with high flip angle excitation. Invest Radiol. 2001; 36: 677–681.
   
9. Lethimonnier F, Bouligand B, Thouveny F, et al. Error assessment due to coronary stents in flow-encoded phase contrast MR angiography: a phantom study. J Magn Reson Imaging. 1999; 10: 899–902.
   
10. Kuehne T, Saeed M, Reddy G, et al. Sequential magnetic resonance monitoring of pulmonary flow with endovascular stents placed across the pulmonary valve in growing Swine. Circulation. 2001; 104: 2363–2368.
    
11. Kivelitz D, Wagner S, Hansel J, et al. The Active Magnetic Resonance Imaging Stent (AMRIS): initial experimental in vivo results with locally amplified MR angiography and flow measurements. Invest Radiol. 2001; 36: 625–631.
    

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. W. Huegli, M. Aschwanden, G. Bongartz, K. Jaeger, H.-G. Heidecker, C. Thalhammer, A.-C. Schulte, C. Hashagen, A. L. Jacob, and D. Bilecen Intraarterial MR Angiography and DSA in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease: Prospective Comparison Radiology, June 1, 2006; 239(3): 901 - 908. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J. Martin, D. A. Saloner, T. P. L. Roberts, H. Roberts, O. M. Weber, W. Dillon, S. Cullen, V. Halbach, C. F. Dowd, and R. T. Higashida Carotid Stent Delivery in an XMR Suite: Immediate Assessment of the Physiologic Impact of Extracranial Revascularization AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., March 1, 2005; 26(3): 531 - 537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Spuentrup, A. Ruebben, A. Mahnken, M. Stuber, C. Kolker, T. H. Nguyen, R. W. Gunther, and A. Buecker Artifact-Free Coronary Magnetic Resonance Angiography and Coronary Vessel Wall Imaging in the Presence of a New, Metallic, Coronary Magnetic Resonance Imaging Stent Circulation, March 1, 2005; 111(8): 1019 - 1026. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. D. Hagspiel, D. A. Leung, K. R. Nandalur, J. F. Angle, H. S. Dulai, D. J. Spinosa, A. H. Matsumoto, J. M. Christopher, H. Ahmed, and S. S. Berr Contrast-Enhanced MR Angiography at 1.5 T After Implantation of Platinum Stents: In Vitro and In Vivo Comparison with Conventional Stent Designs Am. J. Roentgenol., January 1, 2005; 184(1): 288 - 294. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S K Prasad and D J Pennell Safety of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with cardiovascular implants and devices Heart, November 1, 2004; 90(11): 1241 - 1244. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Botnar, A. Buecker, A. J. Wiethoff, E. C. Parsons Jr, M. Katoh, G. Katsimaglis, R. M. Weisskoff, R. B. Lauffer, P. B. Graham, R. W. Gunther, et al. In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Coronary Thrombosis Using a Fibrin-Binding Molecular Magnetic Resonance Contrast Agent Circulation, September 14, 2004; 110(11): 1463 - 1466. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. K. Wacker, R. M. Maes, J. A. Jesberger, S. G. Nour, J. L. Duerk, and J. S. Lewin MR Imaging-Guided Vascular Procedures Using CO2 as a Contrast Agent Am. J. Roentgenol., August 1, 2003; 181(2): 485 - 489. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Spuentrup, A. Ruebben, M. Stuber, R. W. Gunther, and A. Buecker Metallic Renal Artery MR Imaging Stent: Artifact-free Lumen Visualization with Projection and Standard Renal MR Angiography Radiology, June 1, 2003; 227(3): 897 - 902. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Buecker, E. Spuentrup, R. Grabitz, F. Freudenthal, E. G. Muehler, T. Schaeffter, J. J. van Vaals, and R. W. Gunther Magnetic Resonance-Guided Placement of Atrial Septal Closure Device in Animal Model of Patent Foramen Ovale Circulation, July 23, 2002; 106(4): 511 - 515. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 105/15/1772    most recent 01.CIR.0000015852.60212.DBv1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Buecker, A. Articles by Günther, R. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Buecker, A. Articles by Günther, R. W. Related Collections CT and MRI