Method for rapidly determining and reconstructing the peak arterial frame from a time-resolved CE-MRA exam.
A method that determines the information necessary to reconstruct a single vascular image from a time-resolved CE-MRA exam is presented. Raw k-space data are used to approximate the time course of the contrast passage prior to image reconstruction. The resulting k-space contrast curve is used to select the data corresponding to peak arterial enhancement. These data are reconstructed and immediately presented for physician review, with the entire time-series of images available at a later time for more detailed diagnosis. This approach dramatically reduces the latency between acquisition of large 4D (3D plus time) data sets and presentation of a diagnostic quality time frame. This algorithm has proven successful in the imaging of several anatomical regions and-in exams that do not require a breath hold-permits the use of an acquisition method that produces a contrast-enhanced angiogram without a timing scan.
Carroll
T J
TJ
Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53792-3252, USA.
Korosec
F R
FR
Swan
J S
JS
Grist
T M
TM
Frayne
R
R
Mistretta
C A
CA
D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors