Interventional MRI in the Cardiovascular System

Endovascular stent-graft placement for thoracic aortic disease such as aortic dissection or aortic aneurysms is usually performed under conventional X-ray guidance. The experimental concept of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for image-based guidance of vascular instruments for this specific intervention potentially offers a number of features that – aside from not using ionizing radiation – may provide added diagnostic value to the interventional therapy. It allows not only pre-interventional evaluation and detailed anatomic diagnosis but also permits immediate post-interventional, anatomical, and functional delineation of procedure success that may serve as a baseline for future comparison during follow-up.