Magnetic resonance VIBE venography using the blood pool contrast agent gadofosveset trisodium--an interrater reliability study.

PURPOSE: In this study, image quality of leg veins and vena cava inferior was scored by independent raters using the new intravascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent gadofosveset trisodium using fat-suppressed 3D gradient echo Volume Interpolated Breath-hold Examination.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The leg venous system without clinical signs of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and sonography-ruled out DVT were imaged using a fat-suppressed 3D gradient echo Volume Interpolated Breath-hold Examination (VIBE FS). Image interpretation was done independently by two experienced radiologists (raters) using a 5-point scoring system.

RESULTS: High diagnostic image quality with an overall mean visibility score of 4.8±0.1 was acquired in patients enrolled in the study using gadofosveset trisodium-enhanced MRI for the venous system of the leg. There were no cases with moderate, poor or nondiagnostic image quality. Additionally, an excellent interrater reliability was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the feasibility of acquiring high resolution images with excellent image quality of the venous system of the leg using gadofosveset trisodium.