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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Porcine As a Training Module for Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction
Published on: September 29, 2018
MR Angiography of the Head/Neck Vascular System in Mice on a Clinical MRI System
Carolin Reimann1,2, Julia Brangsch1,2, Lisa Christine Adams1
1Department of Radiology, Charite-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
Background:
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) represents a clinical reference standard for the in vivo assessment of the vasculature. In this study, the potential of non-contrast-enhanced and contrast-enhanced angiography of the head/neck vasculature in mice on a clinical MR imaging system was tested.
Methods:
All in vivo magnetic resonance imaging was performed with a 3T clinical system (Siemens). Non-contrast-enhanced (time-of-flight, TOF) and contrast-enhanced angiography (gadofosveset-trisodium, GdT) were performed in C57BL/6J mouse strain. Lumen-to-muscle ratios (LMRs) and area measurements were assessed. Histology was performed as reference standard of all relevant vascular structures.
Results:
A close correlation between TOF (R 2 = 0.79; p < 0.05) and contrast-enhanced (GdT) angiography (R 2 = 0.92; p < 0.05) with histological area measurements was found. LMRs were comparable between both sequences. Regarding interobserver reproducibility, contrast-enhanced (GdT) angiography yielded a smaller 95% confidence interval and a closer interreader correlation compared to non-contrast-enhanced (TOF) measurements (-0.73-0.89; R 2 = 0.81 vs. -0.55-0.56; R 2 = 0.94).
Conclusion:
This study demonstrates that non-contrast-enhanced and contrast-enhanced angiographies of the head/neck vasculature of small animals can reliably performed on a clinical 3T MR scanner. Contrast-enhanced angiography enables the visualization of vascular structures with higher intravascular contrast and higher reproducibility.
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