title: MR angiography of the extracranial circulation.
abstract: In this article, the authors present a brief history of MR angiography (MRA) of the neck with emphasis on the techniques developed, particularly recent ones, to improve image quality. The goal of MRA is to eventually replace catheter angiography. The use of MRA, particularly contrast enhanced MRA with regards to pathology (atherosclerotic disease/plaque formation, dissection and post-traumatic aneurysm) involving the extra-cranial carotid and vertebral arteries is addressed. The authors also comment on computed tomographic angiography and sonography and how they compare with contrast enhanced MRA when pertinent.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neuroradiology, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. valerie_jewels@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jewells
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castillo
mesh_terms: D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020215:Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D020217:Vertebral Artery Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis