Multiecho magnetic resonance angiography

Abstract

Several pulse sequences which generate projected MR angiograms are presented. These pulse sequences exploit multiple‐gradient refocused echoes to obtain several independent angiograms, which can be combined or separately analyzed to provide more information than an individual angiogram. For example, a series of angiograms, each with a different projection axis, can be obtained in the time required to obtain a single angiogram using a single‐echo method. If the view angle of each echo is the same, then the acquired angiograms can be added to enhance the signal‐to‐noise ratio. Another pulse sequence simultaneously obtains two or more angiograms, sensitive to orthogonal flow components of the overall blood flow. These angiograms are then added to give an angiogram which is sensitive to flow in all directions. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.