K-space filter effect in three-dimensional contrast MR angiography.
OBJECTIVE
In three-dimensional (3-D) contrast MR angiography, temporal misregistration between the data acquisition period and the arrival of the contrast agent in the target vessels is thought to degrade the quality of the reconstructed images. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate and investigate this effect in phantom experiments.


METHODS
MR images of a phantom tube were evaluated with flowing materials of water or Gd-DTPA solution by changing from water to Gd-DTPA solution halfway through the data acquisition period.


RESULTS
While no signal could be acquired with a stream of water in the tube, a clear signal was obtained with a flow of Gd-DTPA solution. Blurring and ghost artifacts surrounding the tube along the phase-encoding direction were observed when the flowing material was changed from water to Gd-DTPA solution halfway through the data acquisition period.


CONCLUSIONS
K-space filter effect occurs during 3-D contrast MR angiography owing to the transient passage of the contrast agent, and this effect causes spatial artifacts in the reconstructed images.
Ito
K
K
Department of Radiology, Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, Nippon Medical School, Japan.
Kato
J
J
Okada
S
S
Kumazaki
T
T
D016477:Artifacts; D003287:Contrast Media; D005374:Filtration; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA