Transport of contrast agents in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CEMRA) often appears to display vessels with good resolution, but it does not adequately visualize the throat of a tight stenosis. Image quality in CEMRA is also governed by the timing of contrast injection and data acquisition. We developed a numerical technique to predict the image appearance of a target vessel by taking into account the passage of contrast agent. Experiments were conducted on a phantom with both centric and linear ordering. An effort to prolong the duration in which the contrast passes by employing a double injection technique gives a wider window of opportunity to acquire quality images.