A newly proposed technique for contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography is not substantially better on image quality than standard sequential 2D for planning the care of children with congenital heart disease. However, the 3D approach allows faster and offline planning, thereby reducing scan times significantly.
In addition, as newly developed high-resolution 3D datasets can also be used, further improvement of the technology—and additional applications, including for remote care—are expected.
That’s according to a study published online in JRSM Cardiovascular Disease, a journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Comparing the two cardiac MR techniques, Israel Valverde of King’s College London and colleagues found that both the 2D and 3D planning images perfectly covered the selected anatomic regions and presented no spatial differences.
Yet the mean time for final image creation was just 71 ± 18 seconds for 3D vs. 241 ± 31 seconds for 2D.
In their discussion, the authors state their proposed 3D offline planning method (3D-PM) “allows time-efficient and precise slice selection of complex vascular structures in small children with congenital heart disease.”
Meanwhile the ability to reformat cardiac MR images in a separate workstation “opens the door for the future use of teleradiology using 3D-PM, which may allow an experienced investigator to run several pediatric cardiology examinations in parallel or to support colleagues during the cardiac MR scan at remote sites.”
Journal publisher Sage has posted the study in full for free.
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.