Whole-body screening of atherosclerosis with magnetic resonance angiography

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Vascular Disease Assessment

Background:

• Whole-body magnetic resonance angiography (WBMRA) allows comprehensive arterial imaging without ionizing radiation or invasive procedures.
• It is suitable for serial examinations in systemic vascular diseases like atherosclerosis and vasculitis, and for research.
• Potential advancements include higher-resolution scans for plaque characterization and stenosis assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the capabilities and limitations of whole-body magnetic resonance angiography (WBMRA).
• To discuss the validation status of WBMRA against digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for various arterial segments.
• To explore the potential future applications of WBMRA in cardiovascular risk stratification.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on whole-body magnetic resonance angiography (WBMRA).
• Comparison of WBMRA findings with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and other imaging modalities.
• Discussion of potential technological advancements and clinical applications.

Main Results:

• WBMRA effectively visualizes the arterial tree, excluding intracranial and coronary vessels, without radiation risks.
• High sensitivity and specificity are reported for pelvic and lower limb arteries compared to DSA.
• Validation for renal, aortic, and carotid arteries against DSA is lacking, but agreement with other methods is reasonable.

Conclusions:

• WBMRA is a valuable, non-invasive tool for systemic arterial assessment and monitoring.
• Further research is required to validate WBMRA for precise stenosis quantification and plaque characterization.
• The predictive value of WBMRA for future cardiovascular events needs rigorous investigation for epidemiological and screening purposes.