Aorto-Iliac Flow-Sensitive 4D MRI: Normal & Altered Flow Characteristics in Abdominal Aneurysms

Jrg Mauch¹, Michael Markl², Christoph Haller³, Zoran Stankovic¹, Mathias Langer¹, Julia Geiger¹

The purpose of this study was to employ flow-sensitive 4D MRI for the characterization and quantification of aorto-iliac hemodynamics in patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Compared to healthy volunteers, patients showed a more heterogeneous distribution of flow and demonstrated substantial flow deceleration during passage through aneurysm and sudden flow acceleration distal to the aneurysm in the proximal iliac arteries. Quantitative analysis revealed significant changes in peak velocities, total flow, and flow distribution to the left and right iliac arteries. The magnitude and extent of such alterations may thus be an indicator of aneurysm progression or onset of thrombosis.