Contrast-Enhanced MRI of Vessel Growth and Function

Targeted CE per ARRT’s Discipline, Category, and Subcategory classification for enrollments starting after February 8, 2023:
[Note: Discipline-specific Targeted CE credits may be less than the total Category A credits approved for this course.]

Magnetic Resonance Imaging: 3.00
Patient Care: 0.25
Patient Interactions and Management: 0.25
Image Production: 2.00
Sequence Parameters and Options: 0.50
Data Acquisition, Processing, and Storage: 1.50
Procedures: 0.75
Neurological: 0.25
Body: 0.25
Musculoskeletal: 0.25

Registered Radiologist Assistant: 1.25
Patient Care: 0.25
Pharmacology: 0.25
Procedures: 1.00
Neurological, Vascular, and Lymphatic Sections: 1.00

Outline

1. Introduction
2. Mechanisms of Neovascularization
3. Morphologic Imaging
   1. Contrast-enhanced MR Imaging
   2. Blood Pool Agents
   3. Vessel Size Imaging
4. Functional Imaging
   1. Dynamic Contrast-enhanced MR Imaging
   2. Data Acquisition
   3. Vascular Input Function
   4. Model Validation and Model Accuracy
   5. Applications
   6. Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
5. Molecular Imaging
   1. Cellular Imaging
   2. Vasculogenesis
6. Clinical Considerations and Future Directions
   1. Contrast Agent Safety
   2. High Field Strength
7. Conclusions

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will:

1. understand why MRI is beneficial for imaging the vascular system
2. realize why contrast-enhanced MRI has benefits over nonenhanced MRI for imaging the neovasculature
3. learn about the process by which new vessels sprout from pre-existing ones
4. recognize the characteristics of vessels that result from tumor angiogenesis
5. comprehend the mechanism that drives neovascularization in arteriogenesis
6. recognize the recommended technique for studying the morphology of vessels on a microscopic scale
7. learn about the contrast agent used in contrast-enhanced MR angiography
8. realize benefits of contrast-enhanced MR angiography
9. discover methods for timing the contrast administration in order to achieve predictable results
10. understand how hardware factors of the MR system affect the size of vessels that can be visualized
11. recognize characteristics of blood pool agents used in MRI
12. discover which MR imaging technique is best for evaluating the distribution of submillimeter microvessels
13. understand why the determination of vascular function is important for patient car
14. comprehend which type of MR image appearance is used for dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI
15. recognize the applications and limitations of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging
16. learn typical acquisition parameters for a dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI study
17. understand how to interpret a signal intensity vs. time graph
18. discover potential oncology applications for dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging
19. identify potential cardiovascular applications for dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging
20. learn characteristic traits of the vessels at the rim of a tumor
21. understand the technique used to perform myocardial perfusion imaging with contrast-enhanced MRI
22. discover myocardial perfusion characteristics
23. identify pharmacologic stress agents used in conjunction with myocardial perfusion imaging
24. realize applications for myocardial perfusion imaging with contrast-enhanced MRI
25. learn advantages and disadvantages of MR molecular imaging compared to using other modalities
26. comprehend the characteristics of contrast compounds used in MR molecular imaging
27. recognize that iron-oxide particles have a high uptake in certain organs
28. understand the limitations associated with targeted contrast agents used for MR molecular imaging
29. know why the FDA has issued a warning about gadolinium-based contrast agents and the patient population affected
30. investigate the safety issues associated with blood pool agents
31. understand image quality improvements as the magnetic field strength is increased
32. recognize challenges that exist as magnetic field strength is increased
33. learn how contrast agent sensitivity is affected as the magnetic field strength is increased
34. conclude that contrast-enhanced MR imaging is useful in many ways for studying the neovasculature
35. summarize with which contrast-enhanced MR imaging technique functional parameters of neovascularization is best assessed