Study of enhanced MR angiography by simulation method

The influences on blood vessel images of different imaging delays after medium infusion and different k-space scanning was investigated in simulation and phantom experiments. For 3D SPGR (sequential phase order), it was found that too long a delay in the timing of blood vessel imaging resulted in a loss of data in the low frequency range of the k-space and only the edge of the blood vessel image was detected. Therefore, it seemed difficult to obtain good contrast under such conditions. From the present results, it was concluded that the most favorable blood vessel images would be obtained under MRA conditions that provide high homogeneity and good contrast during scanning in k-space. (author)