Constantine Raptis1, Sanjeev Bhalla, Kathryn Fowler, Vamsi Narra, Rex Parker, Priatna Agus2, Pamela Woodard
1Diagnostic Radiology - Cardiothoracic Imaging Section, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, St. Louis, MO, United States; 2Siemens
Pulmonary MRA examinations for pulmonary embolism are often subject to technically inadequate images, with breathing artifact as a particularly important problem. Blood pool contrast agent enhanced free breathing radial VIBE sequences can be used in pulmonary MRA protocols for pulmonary embolism as an adjunct to traditional GRE sequences, and can be of particular value in patients with dyspnea. We present our initial experience with radial VIBE sequences in pulmonary MRA, including SNR and CNR, as well as comparison with other MRI sequences and computed tomography.