Clemens C. Cyran1, Tobias Saam1, Steven Soubron1, Jos G. Raya1, Katja Bochmann1, Markus Hacker2, Axel Rominger2, Peter Bartenstein2, Thomas Pfefferkorn3, Michael Dichgans3, Maximilian F. Reiser1, Konstantin Nikolaou1
1Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospitals Munich - Grosshadern, Munich, Germany; 2Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospitals Munich - Grosshadern, Munich, Germany; 3Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Munich - Grosshadern, Munich, Germany
DCE-MRI was compared to the gold standard 18F-FDG-PET-CT for its applicability in the non-invasive quantification and measurement of arterial wall inflammation in patients with arteriitis in carotid and vertebral arteries. DCE-MRI of the carotid/vertebral arteries of 12 patients with suspected arteriitis was acquired at 3T (2D-SR-SGRE) using a dedicated 4-channel surface coil. Patients underwent 18F-FDG-PET-CT within one week of the MRI scan. Results showed a good correlation of DCE-MRI with 18F-FDG-PET-CT. This method might be useful in the diagnosis of arteriitis and in monitoring anti-inflammatory therapy.