Visualization of Stent Lumen in MR Imaging: Relationship with Stent Design and RF Direction

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) visualization of metallic stent lumens is possible if the stent structure counteracts eddy currents in the lumen induced by the radio frequency magnetic field, B1. To examine the effectiveness of various stent designs in counteracting eddy currents, we anchored eight copper stent models and 2 commercially available nickel-titanium alloy (Nitinol) stents in a gel phantom, perpendicular or parallel to the direction of B1. A mesh stent lumen showed hypointensity irrespective of its alignment relative to B1. A solenoid stent lumen showed hypointensity with the stent axis parallel to B1, but it had the same signal intensity as outside the lumen when perpendicular to B1. A Moebius stent lumen showed no signal reduction, irrespective of alignment relative to B1. Lumens of the commercially available stents showed hypointensity regardless of alignment relative to B1. Computer simulation revealed that the signal intensities of the stents corresponded to magnetic flux densities of B1 in the stents, which are modified by the structure of the stent. While in vivo MRI viewing of a Moebius stent lumen is likely possible regardless of axis alignment, inherent structural weakness may be problematic. As a more practical choice, the solenoid stent is easier to manufacture and generates no hypointensive signal when the axis is parallel to B0.