Non-Contrast-Enhanced Vein Imaging in the Deep Veins: Impact of Velocity Patterns and Improved Image Quality

Andrew Nicholas Priest¹, Martin John Graves¹, David John Lomas¹

MRI has the potential for multi-contrast imaging of venous thrombo-embolism (VTE). Luminal imaging may be performed using ADVANCE-MRV, a recently developed method which relies on suppression of flowing signal using an iMSDE preparation module. It is demonstrated that signal suppression is governed both by the flow velocity and by velocity dispersion. In low-dispersion situations, the signal may oscillate as a function of velocity, leading to signal loss from the subtraction venograms. This effect is investigated in volunteers, and an image combination method is proposed, leading to more uniform vascular images despite flow variations.