Real-time imaging and triggering of 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiograms using MR fluoroscopy.
Although a variety of timing techniques and data acquisition strategies have been used for three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR angiography, many are still limited by inadequate overall reliability, limited spatial resolution, or complexity. A technique is presented in this work in which contrast arrival is detected in the targeted vasculature in real time using MR fluoroscopy. Upon detection the operator triggers a 3D MR angiographic acquisition which uses an elliptical centric view order. It is shown that the view order intrinsically provides a high degree of venous suppression which in turn allows acquisition times of 30 s or longer, permitting high spatial resolution. The reliability of fluoroscopic triggering in bolus detection is shown to be over 90%. The technique provides high quality contrast-enhanced MR angiograms for many vascular regions.
Riederer
S J
SJ
Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. riederer@mayo.edu
Fain
S B
SB
Kruger
D G
DG
Busse
R F
RF
D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000473:pathology; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000473:pathology; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000473:pathology
D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium