MAGNETIC-RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY - CURRENT CLINICAL-APPLICATIONS

Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) is the newest non-invasive proced ure for the evaluation of the vascular system. The basis to obtain ima ges of vessels from Magnetic Resonance (MR) data rely upon the specifi c signal alteration determined by flowing blood. By using special tech niques only these signals are evidenced, with cancelling of the surrou nding stationary tissues Clinical applications are reviewed in this pa per. They include: Evaluation of intracranial vessels with important a djunct information to those obtained by conventional MR images; Defini tion of cerebrovascular disease including the carotid artery with good correlation with Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA); Evidence of a bdominal vessels, with clear imaging of abdominal aortic aneurysms; De finition of renal arteries; although problems exist, the technique may become useful in the future for the screening of renovascular hyperte nsion; Visualization of peripheral vessels; initial results indicate a potential application in the evaluation of peripheral run-off distal to occlusions.