Three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography: applications in the abdomen and thorax

The application of three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance (MR) angiographic techniques to the vasculature of the abdomen and thorax has not, to the authors' knowledge, been previously reported; this is possibly due to the large amount of physiologic motion in these regions along with the anticipated sensitivity of the 3D acquisition scheme to image degradation caused by motion artifact. The authors describe an asymmetric short-echo velocity-compensated 3D TOF technique that minimized the effects of physiologic motion on image quality and provided rapid high-resolution 3D MR arteriograms of the abdomen and thorax. Contiguous 3D volumes were often combined to provide sufficient anatomic coverage. Benefits include high spatial resolution and minimization of signal loss; limitations include sensitivity to motion artifact and progressive spin saturation.