Karan Dara1,2, Daniel P. Hsu2,3,
Jamal J. Derakhshan1,2, John A. Jesberger2, Jeffrey L.
Duerk1,2, Vikas Gulani2, Jeffrey L. Sunshine2,
Teresa L. Carman4, Mark A. Griswold1,2
1Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States; 2Department
of Radiology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, United
States; 3Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals of
Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, United States; 4Department of Vascular
Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, United States
Stroke and atherosclerosis are major causes of morbidity and death. A recently developed dark blood (DB) prepared TrueFISP sequence called HEFEWEIZEN directionally suppresses blood flow in carotid and jugular vessels to better visualize vessel walls and the remodeling processes. This study aims at determining the efficacy of HEFEWEIZEN against 3D-TOF and 2D DB-TSE sequences. At a 95% confidence interval, HEFEWEIZEN images had an advantageous significant difference over the following: TrueFISP and TOF images in vessel wall visibility and visible flow suppression; T1-, T2- and PD-wt DB-TSE images in perceived image quality; and T1-, T2- and PD-wt DB-TSE images in contrast.