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Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance

Open AccessTechnologist presentationNon contrast vascular imaging techniques from the perspective of the MR technologistSara Powers

Address: Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

IntroductionFrom the perspective of the MR technologist, non-contrastvascular imaging presents the opportunity to eliminatethe cost and nephrotoxicity of gadolinium based contrastagents. At the same time, these new techniques haveunique features that are important to master for successfulintegration to a vascular imaging program. This CaseReport format describes various imaging techniques usedfor most patients. Patient considerations that require spe-cial attention will be highlighted.

PurposeTo provide teaching points for the MR technologist fornon-contrast imaging. Several protocols will be described.The first is renal artery imaging based on ECG-gated 3Dsteady-state free precession imaging of un-inverted bloodinflow, relying on a spatially selective saturation pulse tonull signal from static tissue. Methods such as a navigatorpulse are needed to freeze breathing motion. The secondis peripheral arterial imaging based on subtraction of twoECG-gated 3D fast spin echo images, acquired during theperiods of slow and fast arterial flow respectively (bloodbright during former, dark during latter), heavily relyingon limiting patient motion so that static tissues can besuccessfully canceled in subtraction.

MethodsCase reports will be shown using both 1.5T and 3T sys-tems. The novel aspect of these vascular sequences is theabsence of gadolinium based contrast media. The differ-ences between the strategies for imaging the renal andperipheral vascular systems will be highlighted from theperspective of the MR technologist.

ResultsWhen available, example cases will include comparisonswith other imaging modalities for the renal and periph-eral arterial imaging systems.

ConclusionsUnderstanding novel non-contrast vascular sequencesand attention to protocol detail will enable the technolo-gist to perform routine high quality imaging.

from 13th Annual SCMR Scientific SessionsPhoenix, AZ, USA. 21-24 January 2010

Published: 21 January 2010

Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2010, 12(Suppl 1):T6 doi:10.1186/1532-429X-12-S1-T6

<supplement> <title> <p>Abstracts of the 13^th Annual SCMR Scientific Sessions - 2010</p> </title> <note>Meeting abstracts - A single PDF containing all abstracts in this Supplement is available <a href="http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/files/pdf/1532-429X-12-S1-full.pdf">here</a>.</note> <url>http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/files/pdf/1532-429X-12-S1-info</url> </supplement>

This abstract is available from: http://jcmr-online.com/content/12/S1/T6

© 2010 Powers; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.