Non-contrast enhanced visualization of the equine foot vasculature in a cadaver model using time-of-flight sequence

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to establish a non-contrast enhanced MR angiography (NC-MRA) sequence for the equine foot (EF) using a post-mortem angiography model.Materials and methodsTime-of-flight (TOF) sequences were tested using variable parameter settings and 3 slice orientations dur...

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Main Authors: Bianca A. Underberg, Sabine Kaessmeyer, Daniela Schweizer, Barbara Drews, Elke Van der Vekens
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1585940/full
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author Bianca A. Underberg
Bianca A. Underberg
Sabine Kaessmeyer
Daniela Schweizer
Barbara Drews
Elke Van der Vekens
author_facet Bianca A. Underberg
Bianca A. Underberg
Sabine Kaessmeyer
Daniela Schweizer
Barbara Drews
Elke Van der Vekens
author_sort Bianca A. Underberg
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to establish a non-contrast enhanced MR angiography (NC-MRA) sequence for the equine foot (EF) using a post-mortem angiography model.Materials and methodsTime-of-flight (TOF) sequences were tested using variable parameter settings and 3 slice orientations during vascular perfusion of frozen–thawed cadaver EF with paraffine oil. Transverse and dorsal orientations were planned perpendicular or parallel to the sublamellar vascular plexus at the dorsal aspect of P3, or approximately perpendicular to the coronary plexus. Visibility of the coronary plexus, sublamellar plexus, palmar plexus, terminal arch and its respective branches, solar plexus, and the marginal circumflex vessels was evaluated in a total of 74 sequences.ResultsTwelve EF of 10 horses were scanned. Visibility of vessels as small as the sublamellar plexus was best achieved by 3D-TOF sequences in transverse and dorsal orientations with the following parameters: pixel size 0.34 × 0.48 mm, slice thickness 0.2 mm, interslice gap 0.2 mm, TR/TE 21.2/4.7 ms, flip angle 16°, TONE ramp 70%, acquisition time 22.05 min. Only for the sublamellar plexus, the transverse acquisition showed a slightly better visualization than the dorsal acquisition, however the latter could include nearly the entire EF in the field of view with the same acquisition time.Conclusion and discussion3D-TOF allowed visualization down to at least the sublamellar venous plexus which is reported to have diameters of approximately 0.45 mm. The post-mortem model facilitated establishment of a TOF sequence without the need for experimental animals.
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spelling doaj-art-9ca6f2e1694d478e874ac895c5c825a82025-08-20T03:12:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-07-011210.3389/fvets.2025.15859401585940Non-contrast enhanced visualization of the equine foot vasculature in a cadaver model using time-of-flight sequenceBianca A. Underberg0Bianca A. Underberg1Sabine Kaessmeyer2Daniela Schweizer3Barbara Drews4Elke Van der Vekens5Division of Clinical Radiology, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandGraduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandDivison of Veterinary Anatomy, Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandDivision of Clinical Radiology, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandDivison of Veterinary Anatomy, Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandDivision of Clinical Radiology, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandObjectiveThe objective of this study was to establish a non-contrast enhanced MR angiography (NC-MRA) sequence for the equine foot (EF) using a post-mortem angiography model.Materials and methodsTime-of-flight (TOF) sequences were tested using variable parameter settings and 3 slice orientations during vascular perfusion of frozen–thawed cadaver EF with paraffine oil. Transverse and dorsal orientations were planned perpendicular or parallel to the sublamellar vascular plexus at the dorsal aspect of P3, or approximately perpendicular to the coronary plexus. Visibility of the coronary plexus, sublamellar plexus, palmar plexus, terminal arch and its respective branches, solar plexus, and the marginal circumflex vessels was evaluated in a total of 74 sequences.ResultsTwelve EF of 10 horses were scanned. Visibility of vessels as small as the sublamellar plexus was best achieved by 3D-TOF sequences in transverse and dorsal orientations with the following parameters: pixel size 0.34 × 0.48 mm, slice thickness 0.2 mm, interslice gap 0.2 mm, TR/TE 21.2/4.7 ms, flip angle 16°, TONE ramp 70%, acquisition time 22.05 min. Only for the sublamellar plexus, the transverse acquisition showed a slightly better visualization than the dorsal acquisition, however the latter could include nearly the entire EF in the field of view with the same acquisition time.Conclusion and discussion3D-TOF allowed visualization down to at least the sublamellar venous plexus which is reported to have diameters of approximately 0.45 mm. The post-mortem model facilitated establishment of a TOF sequence without the need for experimental animals.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1585940/fullMRIangiographyTOFhorsepost-mortem perfusionvascular anatomy
spellingShingle Bianca A. Underberg
Bianca A. Underberg
Sabine Kaessmeyer
Daniela Schweizer
Barbara Drews
Elke Van der Vekens
Non-contrast enhanced visualization of the equine foot vasculature in a cadaver model using time-of-flight sequence
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
MRI
angiography
TOF
horse
post-mortem perfusion
vascular anatomy
title Non-contrast enhanced visualization of the equine foot vasculature in a cadaver model using time-of-flight sequence
title_full Non-contrast enhanced visualization of the equine foot vasculature in a cadaver model using time-of-flight sequence
title_fullStr Non-contrast enhanced visualization of the equine foot vasculature in a cadaver model using time-of-flight sequence
title_full_unstemmed Non-contrast enhanced visualization of the equine foot vasculature in a cadaver model using time-of-flight sequence
title_short Non-contrast enhanced visualization of the equine foot vasculature in a cadaver model using time-of-flight sequence
title_sort non contrast enhanced visualization of the equine foot vasculature in a cadaver model using time of flight sequence
topic MRI
angiography
TOF
horse
post-mortem perfusion
vascular anatomy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1585940/full
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