title: Susceptibility-weighted angiography (SWAN) of cerebral veins and arteries compared to TOF-MRA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High resolution, non-contrast imaging of both cerebral veins and arteries by use of gradient echo T2 star weighted angiography (SWAN) is a new method for susceptibility-weighted imaging with short acquisition times. We assessed the potential of this sequence for the depiction of both cerebral veins and arteries.
  
  
  METHODS
  15 healthy volunteers were included in the study. MRI was performed on a 3T MR scanner using the following sequences: (1) a 3D multi-echo gradient echo T2 star weighted angiography (SWAN), (2) an arterial 3D TOF MR angiography and (3) a venous 2D TOF. With regard to the SWAN sequence, both MinIP and MIP images were reconstructed and systematically compared to MIP reconstructions of the artTOF and the venTOF. To suggest possible clinical implications of our findings, we additionally included two illustrative cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With regard to the visualization of the cerebral veins, the MinIP reconstructions of the SWAN sequence were considerably superior compared to the venTOF. Concerning the depiction of the main segments of the big cerebral arteries the value of the MIP reconstructions of the SWAN was comparable to that of the artTOF with limitations in the homogenity and in the depiction of smaller arteries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SWAN allows for high-resolution visualization of both cerebral veins and arteries in one sequence without application of contrast agent and with significantly shortened scan time compared to the combined scan time of TOF-MRA and TOF-MRV. By use of either MinIP or MIP reconstructions, the arteries can be distinguished from the veins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377 München, Germany. Tobias.BoeckhBehrens@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boeckh-Behrens
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lummel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wesemann
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schöpf
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brückmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Linn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male