and Quiescent-Interval Single-Shot (QISS) in Patients with Diabetes

Objectives To compare the image quality and diagnostic performance of two non-contrast enhanced MR angiography (NCE-MRA) techniques using flow-sensitive dephasing (FSD) prepared steady-state free precession (SSFP) and quiescent-interval single-shot (QISS) for the calf arteries in patients with diabetes. Materials and Methods Twenty six patients underwent the two NCE-MRA techniques followed by contrast-en-hanced MRA (CE-MRA) of lower extremity on a 1.5T MR system. Image quality scores, ar-terial stenosis scores, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), vessel sharpness, and diagnostic accuracy for detecting more than 50 % arterial stenosis were evaluated and statistically compared using CE-MRA as the reference standard. Results All examinations were performed successfully. Of the total 153 calf arterial segments ob-tained in the 26 patients, FSD and QISS showed no significant difference in the number of diagnostic arterial segments (151 [98%] vs. 147 [96%], respectively, P>0.05). The image quality of FSD was higher than that of QISS in the peroneal artery and posterior tibial arter