Table 2:

Evaluation of ungated QISS-MRA versus CE-MRA based on the introduced 3-, 4-, and 5-point scale scoring systems in the section “Image Analysis” using the Wilcoxon signed rank test

VariableaQISS-MRAbCE-MRAbP Value (QISS-MRA vs CE-MRA)
Image quality2 (1–3)2 (1–3).46
Venous contamination0 (0–2)1 (0–3)<.0001
Global quality of arterial visualization2 (1–4)3 (1–4)<.0001
Stenosis grading
    Right1 (1–5)1 (1–5).64
    Left1 (1–5)1 (1–5).73
Segmental quality of arterial visualization
    Right side
        Origin of brachiocephalic artery (1)3 (1–4)3 (1–4)<.0001
        Origin of CCA (2)3 (1–4)3 (1–4)<.0001
        CCA (3)3 (1–4)4 (1–4).03
        Bifurcation of CCA (4)3 (1–4)4 (1–4).002
        ICA-C1 (cervical) (5)3 (1–4)4 (1–4).011
        ECA (superior thyroid artery) (6)1 (1–3)2 (1–4).007
        ECA (lingual artery) (7)1 (1–3)2 (1–4).0002
        ECA (facial artery) (8)2 (1–3)2 (1–4).0003
        ECA (occipital artery) (9)2 (1–3)2 (1–4).043
        ECA (posterior auricular artery) (10)1 (1–3)1 (1–4).16
        ECA (suprafacial temporal artery) (11)2 (1–3)2 (1–4).002
        ECA (maxillary artery) (12)2 (1–3)2 (1–4).001
        ECA (ascending pharyngeal artery) (13)1 (1–3)1 (1–4).39
        Origin of subclavian artery (14)2 (1–4)3 (1–4)<.0001
        Origin of vertebral artery (V0) (15)2 (1–4)2 (1–4).19
        V1 (preforaminal) (16)3 (1–4)3 (1–4).064
        V2 (foraminal) (17)3 (1–4)3 (1–4).51
        V3 (atlantic, extradural, or extraspinal) (18)3 (1–4)3 (1–4).097
    Left side
        Origin of CCA (1)2 (1–4)3 (1–4).0003
        CCA (2)3 (2–4)4 (1–4).01
        Bifurcation of CCA (3)3 (2–4)4 (1–4).008
        ICA-C1 (cervical) (4)3 (1–4)4 (1–4).02
        ECA (superior thyroid artery) (5)2 (1–3)2 (1–3).02
        ECA (lingual artery) (6)1 (1–3)2 (1–3).002
        ECA (facial artery) (7)2 (1–3)2 (1–4)<.0001
        ECA (occipital artery) (8)2 (1–4)2 (1–3).34
        ECA (posterior auricular artery) (9)1 (1–3)1 (1–3).98
        ECA (suprafacial temporal artery) (10)2 (1–3)2 (1–4).0003
        ECA (maxillary artery) (11)2 (1–3)2 (1–4).0008
        ECA (ascending pharyngeal artery) (12)1 (1–3)1 (1–3).34
        Origin of subclavian artery (13)2 (1–4)3 (1–4)<.0001
        Origin of vertebral artery (V0) (14)2 (1–4)2 (1–4).001
        V1 (preforaminal) (15)3 (1–4)3 (1–4).002
        V2 (foraminal) (16)3 (1–4)3 (1–4).88
        V3 (atlantic, extradural, or extraspinal) (17)3 (1–4)3 (1–4).11

  • Note:—CCA indicates common carotid artery; ECA, external carotid artery.

  • ↵a Numbers in parentheses indicate the arterial segments on the right and left sides.

  • ↵b Data are median (minimum-maximum).