3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography using fluoroscopic triggering and an elliptical centric view order

Although a variety of timing techniques and data acquisition strategies hav e been used for three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR angiography, many ar e still limited by inadequate overall reliability, limited spatial resoluti on, or complexity. A technique is presented in this work in which contrast arrival is detected in the targetted vasculature in real time using MR fluo roscopy. Upon detection the operator triggers a 3D MR angiographic acquisit ion which uses an elliptical centric view order. It is shown that the view order intrinsically provides a high degree of venous suppression which in t urn allows acquisition times of 30 seconds or longer, permitting high spati al resolution. The reliability of fluoroscopic triggering in bolus detectio n is shown to be over 90%. The technique provides high quality contrast-enh anced MR angiograms for many vascular regions.