Comparison of subtracted venography and phase contrast in cerebral regions by utilizing 3DT1TFE

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the 3D venography images and the phase contrast images that were subtracted by using the images that had been obtained before and after utilizing the contrast medium with a 3D, segmented, T1-weighted gradient echo sequence (3DT1TFE) when performing a cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination with contrast medium. The study was carried out in 10 patients who under went a brain examination with a contrast medium by using the 3.0T MR System and 8-channel sensitivity encoding (SENSE) head coil. The 3DT1TFE images after the contrast medium had been used was subtracted from the 3DT1TFE images before the utilization. The subtracted images were re-formed to venography images by using maximum intensity projection (MIP) techniques; then, the re-formed images and 3D phase contrast (PC) venography were evaluated qualitative analysis. The qualitative analysis was done to confirm the reliability of the ratings of the observers via the ICC (intraclass correlation coefficient) and then to evaluate of the statistical significance via an independent T-test. The ICC test showed that 3D PC venography images and subtracted venography images had reliabilities of 0.677 and 0.734 on average, respectively, indicating good reliability of the ratings by the observers. Because the proximal superior sagittal sinus (SSS), the middle SSS, the confluence SSS, the vein of labbe, the internal cerebral vein, and the Vein of Galen represented p > 0.05 a the independent T-test, no statistically significant difference was observed between the two images. However, a significant difference was observed between the images regarding the straight sinus (p < 0.05). As such, the venography images subtracted from the straight sinus would be better, because the average of the straight sinus was higher in subtracted venography.