Unenhanced MR angiography of the renal arteries with balanced steady-state free precession dixon method.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a novel technique for fat-water separation to image the renal arteries without using a contrast agent.


CONCLUSIONS
Five healthy volunteers were imaged on a 3-T clinical MR scanner using the balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) Dixon method. We were able to image the proximal renal arteries with high conspicuity within a 3-minute overall scanning time. The balanced-SSFP Dixon method shows potential for unenhanced MR angiography of the proximal renal arteries.
Stafford
Randall B
RB
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Sabati
Mohammad
M
Haakstad
Michael J
MJ
Mahallati
Houman
H
Frayne
Richard
R
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity