MR angiography of the vascular tree from the aorta to the foot: combining two-dimensional time-of-flight and three-dimensional contrast-enhanced imaging.
A composite approach for magnetic resonance (MR) angiography of the lower extremities is described. Thirty patients were studied with this approach, which combined a two-dimensional (2D) time-of-flight (TOF) technique with a 3D contrast-enhanced technique. A head/neck coil was selected for imaging mid-foot to upper calf, and the body coil was used for the remainder of the peripheral vascular tree. Acquired data were transferred to a workstation for postprocessing. The final maximum intensity projection images, which display the entire vascular anatomy from aortic bifurcation to foot, were created using a 1024 x 1024 matrix. Very small arteries can be differentiated in critical regions like the calf and foot. Compared with TOF-2D alone, the scan time was reduced. This method offers another option for MR angiography of the lower extremities. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2000;12:884-889.
Li
W
W
Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Zhang
M
M
Sher
S
S
Edelman
R R
RR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging