FLOW-INDEPENDENT MAGNETIC-RESONANCE PROJECTION ANGIOGRAPHY

The performance of current, flow‐based sequences for imaging vasculature using MR is severely restricted in regions with inherently slow flow. We address this problem with a flow‐independent imaging method. Specifically, we generate projection images of blood in the limbs while suppressing signal from all other tissues (primarily skeletal muscle, bone marrow, and subcutaneous fat) using a flow‐compensated, water‐selective, short TI inversion recovery sequence with a long echo time. We experimentally evaluate the effectiveness of this sequence and present in vivo results clearly demonstrating the method's potential. © 1991 Academic Press, Inc. Copyright © 1991 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company