ABSTRACT
CE-MRA techniques are used more frequently because acquisition times are shorter with much greater eld-of-view than NCE-MRA techniques (Figure 5.1).
In addition, inow and pulsatility artifacts are largely overcome with CE-MRA techniques. Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) are used to increase the signal of the vasculature relative to surrounding soft tissues. Broadly speaking, CE-MRA can be performed with static three-dimensional (3D) CE-MRA sequences or timeresolved CE-MRA sequences. With static CE-MRA, the image acquisition is started when there is maximum enhancement of the vessels of interest-in real time with bolus tracking methods or using a prior knowledge of the contrast arrival time from a test bolus injection. With timeresolved CE-MRA, no specic timing of image acquisition is necessary. As with digital subtraction angiography, multiple 3D CE-MRA datasets are acquired throughout the passage of contrast through the vasculature of interest, ensuring the acquisition of at least one dataset during maximum enhancement of the vessels of interest.
