Time‐resolved contrast‐enhanced 3D MR angiography

TLDR

3D TRICKS is a newly developed MR angiographic technique for time‑resolved imaging of contrast kinetics. The method extends 3D imaging by increasing low‑frequency sampling, temporally interpolating k‑space views, and zero‑filling the slice‑encoding dimension. Combined, these elements enable reconstruction of 3D image sets every 2–6 s, increasing the likelihood of arterial‑only images, allowing observation of contrast passage, and permitting temporal processing to enhance image quality.

Abstract

An MR angiographic technique, referred to as 3D TRICKS (3D time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics) has been developed. This technique combines and extends to 3D imaging several previously published elements. These elements include an increased sampling rate for lower spatial frequencies, temporal interpolation of k-space views, and zero-filling in the slice-encoding dimension. When appropriately combined, these elements permit reconstruction of a series of 3D image sets having an effective temporal frame rate of one volume every 2-6 s. Acquiring a temporal series of images offers advantages over the current contrast-enhanced 3D MRA techniques in that it I) increases the likelihood that an arterial-only 3D image set will be obtained. II) permits the passage of the contrast agent to be observed, and III) allows temporal-processing techniques to be applied to yield additional information, or improve image quality.