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Magnetic Resonance Angiography

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Neuroimaging Techniques in Clinical Practice

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Abstract

In the last 20 years, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) has emerged as a valid tool for vascular imaging, augmented by improvements made in MR software and hardware. MRA has proven to be a safe and non-invasive vascular imaging method, which provides images similar to those obtained by classical catheter angiography. MRA methods can be subdivided into two broad categories: DARK BLOOD imaging and BRIGHT BLOOD imaging techniques.

Dark blood imaging techniques render vessels black and are especially useful when the focus of interest is not the vessel lumen, but the vessel wall. Bright blood imaging refers to MRA techniques, which enhance the signal intensity of blood within the vessel lumen. Bright blood imaging can be further subdivided into contrast-enhanced (CE) MRA and non-contrast enhanced (non-CE) MRA. CE-MRA relies on the paramagnetic properties of an intravenously injected gadolinium-based contrast agent, which shortens the T1-relaxation time of blood and renders vessels bright on T1-weighted sequences. Conversely, non-CE MRA on the other hand relies entirely on the intrinsic MR properties of flowing blood.

Several variations are possible and only those techniques that are relevant to the field of neuroradiology will be discussed in this chapter: CE-MRA, time-of-flight (TOF) MRA, phase-contrast (PC) MRA, arterial spin labelling (ASL) MRA and vessel wall (VW) imaging. We will conclude with an overview of clinical applications and a clinical case.

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Abbreviations

ASL:

Arterial spin labelling

AVM:

Arteriovenous malformation

CASL:

Continuous arterial spin labelling

CBF:

Cerebral blood flow

CE:

Contrast enhanced

CSF:

Cerebrospinal fluid

3D-MPRAGE:

3D-magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo

DANTE:

Delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation

dAVF:

Dural arteriovenous fistula

DSC:

Dynamic susceptibility contrast (MRI)

GRE:

Gradient-recalled echo

MOTSA:

Multiple overlapping thin slab acquisition

MRA:

Magnetic resonance angiography

MT:

Magnetization transfer

Non-CE:

Non-contrast enhanced

PASL:

Pulsed arterial spin labelling

PC:

Phase contrast (angiography)

pCASL:

Pseudocontinuous arterial spin labelling

PET:

Positron emission tomography

PLD:

Post-labelling delay

RF:

Radiofrequency (pulse)

SAR:

Specific absorption rate

SNR:

Signal-to-noise ratio

SPECT:

Single-photon emission tomography

TE:

Echo time

TOF:

Time-of-flight (angiography)

TONE:

Tilted optimized non-saturating excitation

TR:

Repetition time

TSE:

Turbo spin echo

VENC:

Velocity encoding (parameter)

VS-ASL:

Velocity selective arterial spin labelling

VW:

Vessel wall (imaging)

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Virga Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium

    Benjamin Peters

  2. Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium

    Sven Dekeyzer

  3. Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital RWTH, Achen, Germany

    Omid Nikoubashman

  4. David Hartley Chair of Radiology, University of Western Australia (UWA) & Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), Perth, Australia

    Paul Marie Parizel

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Correspondence to Paul Marie Parizel .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Clinic for Radiology, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany

    Manoj Mannil

  2. Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Sebastian F.-X. Winklhofer

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Peters, B., Dekeyzer, S., Nikoubashman, O., Parizel, P.M. (2020). Magnetic Resonance Angiography. In: Mannil, M., Winklhofer, SX. (eds) Neuroimaging Techniques in Clinical Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48419-4_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48419-4_10

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