Recent advances in magnetic resonance angiography of carotid and vertebral arteries.
New magnetic resonance angiographic sequences using gadolinium infusion allow high-quality images of supra-aortic vessels. Raw data may be obtained in a short scan time of less than 30 s, with a large acquisition volume from the aortic arch to the circle of Willis. After computed reconstruction of the vascular tree, angiograms appear similar to those obtained with conventional catheter angiography. Parameters of the sequence must be carefully chosen, however, with trade-offs between spatial resolution, scan time, acquisition volume and contrast of image. New developments have been proposed to improve the image quality with different acquisition strategies. These recent advances will probably be useful to assess the carotid and the vertebral arteries with more accuracy. They will require high-performance gradient systems and sophisticated software that is not yet available on all machines, however.
Leclerc
X
X
Department of Neuroradiology, Hôpital Roger Salengro, University Hospital of Lille, France. xleclerc@chru-lille.fr
Pruvo
J P
JP
D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000473:pathology*