Abstract #3878

High Resolution Non Contrast Enhanced MRA of the Hand Arteries at 3 Tesla Using an ECG-Triggered Variable Flip Angle 3D Fast Spin Echo (SPACE) Sequence

Ruth P. Lim¹, Pippa Storey¹, Iliyana P. Atanasova¹, Jian Xu², elizabeth m. Hecht¹, David R. Stoffel¹, Hugo Chang², Kellyanne Mcgorty¹, qun Chen¹, henry Rusinek¹, H Michael Belmont³, Vivian S. Lee¹

¹Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, USA; ²Siemens Medical Solutions, New York, USA; ³Rheumatology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, USA

Slow arterial flow, small vessel caliber and short arteriovenous transit times make hand MRA challenging. We present our initial experience with an ECG-triggered variable flip angle 3D fast spin echo (SPACE) MRA technique at 3T in 9 subjects. Two volunteers also underwent assessment of vascular reactivity, with MRA obtained following cooling. Two radiologists in consensus evaluated image quality and vessel visualization. Image quality was generally excellent or satisfactory, with high vessel conspicuity, including visualization of the distal digital arteries. Following cooling challenge, fewer vessel segments were visualized and were of smaller caliber.