Three Dimensional Non-Contrast MRA of the Lower Extremities using Stepping Thin Slab Acquisition: Initial Experience in Healthy Subjects

Thanh D. Nguyen¹, Mitchell Cooper², Pascal Spincemaille¹, Priscilla Winchester¹, Martin R. Prince¹, Yi Wang¹

We propose to develop an inflow based 3D non-contrast MRA sequence using stepping thin slab acquisition for lower extremity imaging. This sequence can provide improved inflow effect compared to conventional thick slab 3D acquisition as well as better SNR with higher resolution compared to 2D acquisition. Initial results from healthy subjects demonstrated 21% higher SNR in 60% less scan time compared to conventional ECG-gated 2D time-of-flight acquisition.