Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol for Stroke Onset Time Estimation in Permanent Cerebral Ischemia
Published on: September 16, 2017
Time-resolved contrast-enhanced MR angiography of intracranial lesions
Zhitong Zou1, Lin Ma, Liuquan Cheng
1Department of Radiology, Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Purpose:
To determine if contrast-enhanced (CE) MRI of intracranial lesions benefits from time-resolved MR angiography (MRA) during contrast agent injection.
Materials And Methods:
For 126 patients with suspected intracranial lesions undergoing routine CE MRI at 3.0T (N = 88) or 1.5T (N = 38), time-resolved CE MRA (three-dimensional [3D] time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics [TRICKS]) was performed during injection of the routine gadolinium (Gd) dose of 0.1 mmol/kg. Time to peak (TTP) enhancement of lesions as well as time to internal carotid artery (ICA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), superior sagittal sinus (SSS), and jugular vein enhancement were measured. Source and maximum intensity projection (MIP) images were reviewed to delineate the spatial relationship of lesions and the vasculature.
Results:
In 61 patients (48%), additional important findings were detected on time-resolved MRA that were not seen on the routine CE protocol, including aneurysms (N = 6), arteriovenous malformations (N = 7), ICA stenoses (N = 2), vascular anomalies (N = 18), and relationships between lesions and vessels (N = 28). In addition, tumor TTP correlated with glioma grade (r = 0.87) and discriminated epithelial from nonepithelial meningiomas (P = 2.6 x 10(-5)). MRA added eight minutes to the total exam time.
Conclusion:
Time-resolved MRA performed during contrast agent injection adds information to the routine brain CE MRI examination of intracranial lesions with only a small time penalty and no additional risk to the patient.
Insights
Adding time-resolved MR angiography (MRA) to contrast-enhanced (CE) MRI for intracranial lesions reveals crucial vascular details. This technique enhances diagnostic yield for brain lesions with minimal extra time and no added patient risk.
Area of Science:
- Neuroradiology
- Medical Imaging
- Vascular Imaging
Background:
- Contrast-enhanced (CE) MRI is standard for evaluating intracranial lesions.
- The diagnostic utility of incorporating time-resolved MR angiography (MRA) during contrast injection remains an area of investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the added value of time-resolved MRA during routine CE MRI for intracranial lesions.
- To determine if time-resolved MRA provides additional diagnostic information beyond standard CE MRI protocols.
Main Methods:
- 126 patients with suspected intracranial lesions underwent routine CE MRI with concurrent time-resolved MRA (3D TRICKS) at 3.0T or 1.5T.
- Key metrics included time to peak enhancement for lesions and vasculature (ICA, MCA, SSS, jugular vein).
- Source and MIP images were analyzed for lesion-vasculature spatial relationships.
Main Results:
- Time-resolved MRA yielded additional findings in 48% of patients, including aneurysms, AVMs, stenoses, and vascular anomalies.
- Significant correlations were found between tumor time to peak enhancement and glioma grade (r=0.87).
- The technique differentiated meningioma subtypes (P=2.6x10⁻⁵) and added approximately 8 minutes to scan time.
Conclusions:
- Time-resolved MRA integrated into CE MRI provides significant additional diagnostic information for intracranial lesions.
- This technique offers valuable insights into lesion vascularity and relationships with surrounding vessels.
- The added information comes with a minimal increase in examination time and no additional patient risk.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Magnetic Resonance Imaging
01:21Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System IV: CMRI