Abstract #3260

Effects of Translation and Pulsation on 3D Contrast-Enhanced MRA of the Carotid Arteries

Dean Thomas Jeffery^1,2, Derek J. Emery³, Alan H. Wilman²

¹Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; ²Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; ³Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

3D Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Angiography (3D CE-MRA) of the carotid arteries may be limited by vessel movement due to the long acquisition times and lack of cardiac gating. Vessel movement, via pulsation and translation, was quantified from cardiac-gated time-resolved images in seven patients with suspected carotid artery disease and then compared with image sharpness in the concurrent 3D CE MRA exam of each patient. Results from 14 arteries in patients indicate that vessel movement during the cardiac cycle does not play a significant role in 3D CE-MRA image sharpness.