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3D Multi-Contrast Blood Imaging with a Single Acquisition: Simultaneous Non-Contrast-Enhanced MRA and Vessel Wall imaging
Yoshihiko Tachikawa1, Hiroshi Hamano2, Hikaru Yoshikai1, Kento Ikeda1, Yasunori Maki1, Yukihiko Takahashi1, and Kunishige Matake1
1Karatsu Red Cross Hospital, Saga, Japan, 2Philips Japan, Tokyo, Japan
A new multi-contrast blood imaging method, named BRIDGE, allows the acquisition of image quality comparable to conventional MRA and vessel wall imaging methods in a shorter time, and allows the simultaneous assessment of luminal changes and vulnerable plaques in a single acquisition.

Figure 1. The schema diagram of BRIDGE with pulse gating.

BRIDGE consisting of 3D MSG-EPI with T2prep and IR pulses (A).

The estimated signal transitions of different tissue types in the thoracic aorta (B) show that data acquisition after a short inversion time (TI) yields bright blood (MRA) with suppressed background tissues such as muscle, and data acquisition after a longer TI yields dark blood images with suppressed vascular signals and enhanced vulnerable plaques.

Figure 4. Optimal image processing.

All images in each phase can be assessed in multiple planes with MPR processing. Bright blood is used for assessment of vascular anatomy and vascular lumen. Dark blood such as gray or black blood is used for assessment of vessel wall and plaque characterization and the extent of vulnerable plaques.

In MIP process, creation of vulnerable plaques-weighted MRA image allows for simultaneous assessment of vascular anatomy and plaque location. This image can be used as a surgical support image such as CAS.