title: On the dual contrast enhancement mechanism in frequency-selective inversion-recovery magnetic resonance angiography (IRON-MRA).
abstract: The susceptibility of blood changes after administration of a paramagnetic contrast agent that shortens T(1). Concomitantly, the resonance frequency of the blood vessels shifts in a geometry-dependent way. This frequency change may be exploited for incremental contrast generation by applying a frequency-selective saturation prepulse prior to the imaging sequence. The dual origin of vascular enhancement depending first on off-resonance and second on T(1) lowering was investigated in vitro, together with the geometry dependence of the signal at 3T. First results obtained in an in vivo rabbit model are presented.
authors.affiliation: Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. evertjan@isi.uu.nl
authors.forename: Evert-jan
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Vonken
authors.forename: Grigorios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Korosoglou
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schär
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weissleder
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stuber
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001011:Aorta / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide