A post-processing technique for displaying vessels from routine fast-spin-echo images: MRI-derived angiography

Fast-spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) images are routine components of a s tandard MR brain examination, On these images, blood vessels are visible as black flow void. We report that by applying an enhancement filter to a sta ck of routine fast-spin-echo MR images, projected angiographic images can b e generated. The vascular detail in the projected image is similar to that observed in a phase contrast image. In addition to its advantage in obtaini ng vessel information from routine images, the proposed post-processing tec hnique is fast, easy to implement and completely automatic. These images pr ovide additional vessel information that is useful when MR angiography is u navailable or as an aid in planning dedicated MR angiographic studies. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.