title: Phase contrast and time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography of the intracerebral arteries at 1.5, 3 and 7 T.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Time-of-flight (ToF) and phase contrast (PC) magnetic resonance angiographies (MRAs) are noninvasive applications to depict the cerebral arteries. Both approaches can image the cerebral vasculature without the administration of intravenous contrast. Therefore, it is used in routine clinical evaluation of cerebrovascular diseases, e.g., aneurysm and arteriovenous malformations. However, subtle microvascular disease usually cannot be resolved with standard, clinical-field-strength MRA. The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of ToF and PC MRA to visualize the cerebral arteries at increasing field strengths.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Institutional Review Board-approved study included eight healthy volunteers (age: 36 ± 10 years; three female, five male). All subjects provided written informed consent. ToF and PC MRAs were obtained at 1.5, 3 and 7T. Signal intensities of the large, primary vessels of the Circle of Willis were measured, and signal-to-noise ratios were calculated. Visualization of smaller first- and second-order branch arteries of the Circle of Willis was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that both ToF and PC MRAs allow the depiction of the large primary vessels of the Circle of Willis at all field strengths. Ultrahigh field (7T) provides only small increases in the signal-to-noise ratio in these primary vessels due to the smaller voxel size acquired. However, ultrahigh-field MRA provides better visualization of the first- and second-order branch arteries with both ToF and PC approaches. Therefore, ultrahigh-field MRA may become an important tool in future neuroradiology research and clinical care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Stamm
authors.forename: Chadwick L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Michael V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Knopp
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schmalbrock
authors.forename: Johannes T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Heverhagen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity