Evaluation of vascular pathologies with MR angiography

The flow sensitivity of MR imaging methods can be used to visualize vascular structures (MR angiography). In this paper the method of flow-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography will be presented. This technique makes use of the signal enhancement due to inflow of unsaturated spins into the imaging volume in combination with flow-compensated three-dimensional Fourier transform gradient-echo sequences. Projective images are calculated from the measured data by means of a maximum-intensity algorithm. The procedure was optimized for the visualization of the intra-and extracranial vasculature. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the potential of this MR angiographic procedure to evaluate vascular disease in a clinical situation. Prospective studies in patients with vascular disease including aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, arterial occlusion, and stenosis are shown in correlation with conventional procedures