Venous signal suppression in 3D dynamic Gd-enhanced carotid artery imaging using the eigenimage filter.
A three-dimensional dynamic gadolinium-enhanced carotid artery imaging protocol with 10 sec per phase was evaluated with respect to the acquisition of an arterial-only phase after contrast bolus injection. Subsequently, the eigenimage filter was used to suppress any venous signal based on a difference in arterial and venous temporal enhancement patterns. From 63 consecutive scans of the carotid bifurcation, venous enhancement in the maximal arterial phase was found to be absent in 43%, weak in 19%, and strong in 38% of cases. Our eigenimage filter successfully suppressed the low signal veins in 100% and the high signal veins in 67% of cases. The number of acquired high-quality arterial-only images increased from 43% without to 87% with the use of the filter. In conclusion, even when a dynamic scan cannot resolve the short physiological delay between arterial and venous enhancement, the eigenimage filter can effectively be used to suppress the veins. Magn Reson Med 42:307-313, 1999.
Kaandorp
D W
DW
Saint Joseph Hospital, Department of Clinical Physics, Veldhoven, The Netherlands. kaandorp@kfm1.phys.tue.nl
Kopinga
K
K
Wijn
P F
PF
D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008433:Mathematics
D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium