USE OF THE RACE TECHNIQUE FOR QUANTITATIVE FLOW MEASUREMENTS - EVALUATION USING A CLINICALLY RELEVANT FLOW MODEL

A phantom has been designed for measuring flow velocities; using pipes of specified diameter and selectable pulse rates, flow rates varying from 0-250 cm/s can be determined. The measurements are made in a supe rconductive magnet with a field strength of 1.5 Tesla, employing a RAC E technique. The reference technique was electromagnetic flow measurem ent. There was good linear correlation between the electromagnetic and the MRT results with a correlation coefficient of 0.98. It is necessa ry in the first place to estimate flow speed; if flow velocity is unkn own initially, there is no correlation. Hence, in everyday use erroneo us results may be obtained, particularly since one cannot always demon strate vessels in all parts of the body without superimposition. Furth er clinical studies are required in various vascular territories to ev aluate the usefulness of the RACE technique for flow measurements.