Non-contrast 3.0T coronary magnetic resonance angiography: Image quality comparison of coronal balanced-turbo-field-echo, axial turbo-field-echo, and modified-Dixon sequences

Figure 1 Stacked bar charts show image quality scores of three coronary magnetic resonance angiography sequences. The stacked bar charts depict the distribution of subjective image quality scores (1-4) across 18 coronary segments for the three coronary magnetic resonance angiography sequences (balanced turbo field echo, turbo field echo, and modified Dixon). A: The stacked bar chart depict the distribution of subjective image quality scores (1-4) across left main coronary artery and the proximal, mid, and distal segments of the left anterior descending artery for the three coronary sequences; B: The stacked bar chart depict the distribution of subjective image quality scores (1-4) across the proximal and distal segments of the left circumflex artery for the three coronary sequences; C: The stacked bar chart depict the distribution of subjective image quality scores (1-4) across the proximal, mid, and distal segments of the right coronary artery for the three coronary sequences; D: The stacked bar chart depict the distribution of subjective image quality scores (1-4) across ramus intermediu, diagonal branch, obtuse marginal branch, posterior descending artery and posterolateral branch for the three coronary sequences. BTFE: Balanced turbo field echo; TFE: Turbo field echo; mDixon: Modified Dixon; LM: Left main artery; LAD-pro: Proximal left anterior descending artery; LAD-mid: Mid left anterior descending artery; LAD-dis: Distal left anterior descending artery; LCX-pro: Proximal left circumflex artery; LCX-dis: Distal left circumflex artery; RCA-pro: Proximal right coronary artery; RCA-mid: Mid right coronary artery; RCA-dis: Distal right coronary artery; RI: Ramus intermediu; D: The first and second diagonal branches (D1, D2); OM: The first and second obtuse marginal branches (OM1, OM2); PDA: Posterior descending arteries; PLB: Posterolateral branches.

Figure 2 Non-contrast coronary magnetic resonance angiography images show the three major coronary arteries across the balanced turbo field echo, turbo field echo, and modified Dixon sequences. The balanced turbo field echo (BTFE) sequence demonstrated superior image quality for all three arteries. In the right coronary artery, subjective image quality scores were 4 for BTFE, 2 for turbo field echo (TFE), and 3 for modified Dixon. The measured length of the left anterior descending artery was greater on BTFE images than on those acquired with TFE and modified Dixon. The lower contrast-to-noise ratio of the left circumflex artery on TFE likely explains its reduced measured length on that sequence. BTFE: Balanced turbo field echo; TFE: Turbo field echo; mDixon: Modified Dixon; LAD: Left anterior descending artery; LCX: Left circumflex artery; RCA: Right coronary artery.