MR PHASE-CONTRAST IMAGING - DETERMINATION OF FLOW VELOCITY AND FLOW PROFILE IN INTRACRANIAL-ARTERIES

2D-phase-contrast mapping is a MR method that allows for quantitative measurements of blood flow velocity in intracranial vessels. Using a m odified FISP-Sequence with a 1.5 T MR scanner, flow studies were carri ed out on a phantom. Two matrix sizes (256 x 256 vs. 256 x 512) were c ompared. In 20 healthy volunteers blood flow velocity and profile of t he basal (BA), middle cerebral (MCA), and anterior cerebral artery (AC A) were compared with the corresponding findings of transcranial Doppl er (TCD) sonography. 2DPK and TCD yielded equivalent velocity data and profiles of the BA. The blood flow velocity in the MCA determined by 2DPK was lower than the TCD values. Using a 256 x 512 matrix, the aqui red data were in better accordance with the TCD findings. Due to signi ficant noise measurements of the ACA and PCA were frequently degraded.