Abstract #0870

Dyverfeldt P, Sigfridsson A, Ebbers T, E. Kvitting J

Turbulent flow is believed to be implicated in the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular diseases. Generalizing phase-contrast MRI and exploiting the phenomenon of signal loss, we propose a method for direct measurement of the standard deviation of the velocity distribution within a voxel. Standard deviation, in one direction, is obtained from the magnitude of two PC-MRI measurements with different first gradient moments. An in-vitro comparison with published LDA results shows good agreement. This method allows for quantitative studies of turbulence and may be useful in the assessment of heart valves and detection and analysis of turbulence in predilection areas of atherosclerosis.