Magnetic resonance imaging and MR angiography of endoluminally treated abdominal aortic aneurysms

Objectives: To evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium-based contrast medium-enhanced MX angiography (MRA) for the follow-up of endoluminally treated abdominal aortic aneurysms. Design: MRI/MRA, angiography anti computed tomography (CT) were performed 1 month after endoluminal stent-graft placement. MRI/MRA was repeated at 6 and 12 months and angiography and CT were added to confirm unexpected findings. Materials: Fifteen male patients with endoluminally treated abdominal aortic aneurysms. Methods: MRI with MRA, spiral CT with transverse images and angiography were performed. Results: MRI/MRA demonstrated changes of stent-graft morphology, aortic neck-and aneurysmal diameter, stent-graft blood flow stent-graft leakage, blood flow in lumbar arteries, intra-aneurysmal thrombus, periaortic inflammation and vertebral body infarction. For most of these features MRI/MRA provided more information than angiography and/or CT. MRI was the only method demonstrating thrombus reorganisation and vertebral body infarction. Conclusions: MRI with MRA provides the relevant information needed for follow-up of endoluminally treated abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). This may be the method of choice because of its use of contrast media with very low nephrotoxicity, lack of ionising radiation and non-invasiveness.