Improved high-resolution pediatric vascular imaging with Gadofosveset-Enhanced 3d respiratory navigated IR GRE imaging compared to 3D bSSFP imaging

Background Improved delineation of vascular structures, including coronary arteries and pulmonary veins, is a common indication for CMR imaging in children and requires high spatial resolution given small structure sizes. Currently, pre-contrast 3D, respiratory navigated, T2 prepared, fat saturated imaging with a bSSFP readout (3D bSSFP) is commonly used; however, these images can have limitations including blood pool inhomogeneity and exaggeration of metal artifact. We sought to compare imaging after administration of a blood pool contrast agent, gadofosveset trisodium (GT), with 3D, respiratory navigated, inversion recovery prepared imaging with a gradient echo readout (3D IR GRE) to the standard 3D bSSFP for imaging of pediatric vasculature.