MRI of blood flow: correlation of image appearance with spin-echo phase shift and signal intensity.
Phase-sensitive imaging was used to correlate signal distribution with phase shift and velocity distribution in spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Flow-dependent, changing intensity patterns that were seen in a constant-flow phantom study were explained by the simultaneous effects of inflow signal enhancement, first-echo dephasing, and outflow signal loss occurring during laminar flow. In clinical studies, first-echo dephasing was shown during laminar flow in the inferior vena cava. Turbulent flow was demonstrated in the descending thoracic aorta during late systolic flow, and turbulent dephasing-rephasing was shown in the abdominal aorta.
D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000502:physiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008961:Models, Structural; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000502:physiology