Abstract #2650

ToF-SWI: A Dual-Echo Sequence for Simultaneous Time-Of-Flight Angiography and Susceptibility Weighted Imaging

Andreas Deistung¹, Enrico Dittrich^1,2, Jan Sedlacik³, Alexander Rauscher⁴, Jrgen R. Reichenbach¹

¹Medical Physics Group, Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Clinics, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany; ²Department of Medical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences, Jena, Germany; ³Radiological Sciences, Translational Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, USA; ⁴MRI Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

We present an MR-sequence for non-invasive simultaneous arterial and venous imaging based on a 3D dual-echo gradient echo sequence (ToF-SWI) that combines time-of-flight (ToF) angiography and susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI). The influence of flip angle (FA), parallel imaging acceleration factor, and the issue whether full flow compensation of the second echo is required was investigated. We found good vessel representation for a ramped flip angle (20) and an acceleration factor up to R=3. Full (3D) flow compensation of the second echo was required to minimize signal voids and mis-registration of arteries due to oblique blood flow.