Compared to ECCA, IVCA have a higher relaxivity. This means IVC can result in higher vessel to background signals (12, 13). This makes it possible to conduct imaging of small caliber diseased vessels that require the use of higher spatial resolution. As a result of binding with protein molecules, IVCA gains a longer half-life. An increase of half-life results in an increase in imaging window (6, 7, 8). This means the use of IVCA eliminates the timing of peak arterial enhancement that is characteristic of the ECCA.
The longest documented half-life of IVCA is one hour. As a result of the higher half-life of IVCA, it is possible to carry out a variety of multiple arterial territories that could be imaged by using one IVCA injection (13, 15). Compared to ECCA, IVCA makes sit possible to evaluate a specific region. Region or section specificity imaging is achieved through a higher spatial resolution that IVCA can guarantee. ECCA cannot support multiple arterial territory imaging due to its characteristic short half-life.
ECCA could not be used to determine tissue blood volume (12, 16, 17). Tissue blood volume is accurately determined by IVCA. IVCA could also be employed to determine perfusion a role that ECCA cannot perform (17). This is due to the IVCA property of a higher half-life.
