Fat-suppressed three-dimensional MR angiography technique with elliptical centric view order and no prolonged breath-holding time.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the appropriate rate of fat-suppression pulses (using spec IR-spectral selective inversion recovery) for fat-suppressed 3D magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with an elliptical centric view order.


METHODS
In abdominal 3D fast spoiled gradient echo (fast SPGR) with an elliptical centric view order, the spec IR pulse rate was changed from zero to one every 15 repetitions (in nine steps) in eight volunteers. In the equilibrium phase, abdominal contrast-enhanced 3D MRA was obtained by 3D fast SPGR using an elliptical centric view order without fat-suppression and with two spec IR, and by fat-suppressed 3D fast SPGR with a sequential-centric view order (efgre3D) in 18 cases. Fat and vascular signals were estimated.


RESULTS
Although 3D fast SPGR using an elliptical centric view order with spec IR placed every 15 TR and efgre3D effectively decreased fat signals, these sequences lengthened the breath-hold by 4-6 seconds compared with non-fat-suppressed sequence. 3D fast SPGR using an elliptical centric view order and two spec IR reduced the fat signal by 30% and provided good 3D MR angiography without substantial prolongation of breath-hold.


CONCLUSIONS
Two spec IR can be used for generation of partially fat-suppressed abdominal 3D MRA without prolongation of the breath-hold when performing 3D fast SPGR using an elliptical centric view order.
Amano
Yasuo
Y
Department of Radiology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. ya-amano@nms.ac.jp
Amano
Maki
M
Matsuda
Tsuyoshi
T
Tsuchihashi
Toshio
T
Takahama
Katsuya
K
Kumazaki
Tatsuo
T
D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA