Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the influence of short and ultra-short echo times (TE) on the magnetic resonance (MR) signal in the carotid sinus and in carotid artery stenoses. Material and methods: High resolution gradient-echo sequences without and with flow compensation using TE's ranging from 1.5 to 8.0 ms were compared on phantoms, eight healthy volunteers, and 10 patients with moderate and severe carotid artery stenoses. Results: MR sequences with shortest TE's provided the best visualisation of stenotic regions in the carotid sinus and demonstrated a substantial reduction of signal loss due to spin dephasing in both phantom and patient studies. This was made possible using an improved gradient system with higher gradient strengths and shorter rise times with lower acquisition bandwidths and better signal-to-noise ratio. Conclusion: MR sequences with short and ultrashort TE's enable a better definition of the stenotic region and therefore guide adequate therapeutic decisions.
Translated title of the contribution | MR angiography of the carotic arteries: Influence of short and ultrashort echo times |
---|---|
Original language | German |
Pages (from-to) | 308-313 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | RoFo Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Rontgenstrahlen und der Bildgebenden Verfahren |
Volume | 164 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1996 |
Externally published | Yes |