Nonenhanced methods for lower-extremity MRA: a phantom study examining the effects of stenosis and pathologic flow...

To evaluate the signal properties of 2D time of flight (TOF), quiescent-interval single-shot (QISS), ECG-gated 3D fast spin-echo (FBI), and ungated 3D fast spin-echo ghost (Ghost) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) over a range of flow velocities in a pulsatile flow phantom with a 50% diameter stenosis at 1.5T.

Blood-mimicking fluid was pumped at eight peak flow velocities through a stenotic region in triphasic and monophasic waveforms. Vascular signal proximal, within, and distal to the stenosis was measured from the source images of the four MRA methods. Coronal maximum intensity projection images were used to compare image quality.

TOF and QISS signal trends were similar, but QISS exhibited the most consistent signal across velocities. At high velocities (≥ 42.4 cm/s), TOF showed poststenotic signal loss that was not observed with QISS. FBI and Ghost signals peaked at low velocities (3.9-9.7 cm/s) without flow compensation and at high velocities (≥ 64.6 cm/s) with flow compensation.

FBI and Ghost demonstrated dependence on blood flow velocity and flow compensation. TOF was sensitive to flow artifacts at high velocities. QISS proved most robust for accurately depicting the normal lumen and stenosis under a wide range of flow conditions. Monophasic and triphasic flow did not appreciably affect the signal performance of any method.