mrimaster

MRA Brain : Protocol and Planning

Introduction

MRA stands for magnetic resonance angiography. MRA of the brain is used to assess abnormalities in the arterial blood supply system of the brain. The most frequently employed method for assessing the brain’s arterial blood supply system is the three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight (TOF) MRA. This technique offers advantages such as improved signal-to-noise ratio and shorter imaging times. One of the notable benefits of MRA brain is its simplicity, as it can be easily performed without the need for contrast administration.

Time-of-flight (TOF) MRA

Time-of-flight (TOF) MRI is a technique used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to acquire high-resolution images of blood vessels. It takes advantage of the differences in arrival times of the MRI signal from different locations within the body. By applying selective radiofrequency pulses and gradients, the signal from stationary tissue is suppressed while the signal from flowing blood is preserved. This leads to high contrast between blood vessels and surrounding tissue. TOF MRI provides information about blood flow and is commonly used in the evaluation of vascular structures, such as detecting aneurysms, stenoses, and arteriovenous malformations. It allows for non-invasive assessment of blood vessels and can visualize them with high spatial resolution.

Indications for MRA brain

Contraindications MRA Brain

Patient preparation for MRA brain

Positioning for MRA brain

magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) of the brain positioning

Recommended MRA Brain Protocols, Parameters, and Planning

localiser

A three-plane localizer must be taken at the beginning to localize and plan the sequences. Localizers are usually less than 25 seconds and are T1-weighted low-resolution scans.

Brain MRA localiser image

T2 tse axial

Plan the axial slices on the sagittal plane and angle the planning block parallel to the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum.  Check the planning block in the other two planes and ensure an appropriate angle is provided in the coronal plane for a tilted head (perpendicular to the line of the 3rd ventricle and brainstem). The slices should be sufficient to cover the entire brain from the vertex to the line of the foramen magnum.

Parameters

mri brain protocol and planning of axial scans

TR

3000-4000

TE

100-120

SLICE

5MM

FLIP

130-150

PHASE

R>L

MATRIX

320X320

FOV

210-230

GAP

10%

NEX(AVRAGE)

2

3D time-of-flight (TOF)

Plan the axial 3D block on the sagittal plane, angling the planning block parallel to the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum. Ensure that the slices are sufficient to cover the entire Circle of Willis, extending from 1 cm above the corpus callosum up to the line of the foramen magnum. Verify the planning block in the other two planes and ensure an appropriate angle is maintained in the coronal plane, perpendicular to the line of the 3rd ventricle and brainstem. To reduce venous contamination in the resulting image, TOF sequences use saturation bands on top of the axial block.

Parameters

TR

30-40

TE

5-9

FLIP

25

NEX

1

SLICE

.7MM

MATRIX

256×256

FOV

250

PHASE

R>L

GAP

33%

MTC

ON

MRI planning and protocol of Circle of Willis Magnetic Resonance Angiography

Maximum intensity projection (MIP)

MIP (Maximum Intensity Projection) is a widely used post-processing technique in MRI vascular studies. It involves the reconstruction of a 2D projection image from 3D volumetric data using a ray-tracing algorithm. This algorithm selects the highest intensity signal within the examined volume at each location and assigns it to a white pixel in the resulting image. By utilizing the maximum intensity values, MIP provides a visual representation that emphasizes the blood vessels’ highest signal intensity, enhancing their visibility and aiding in the evaluation of vascular structures. MIP images are particularly valuable in identifying vascular abnormalities, such as stenoses, aneurysms, and vascular malformations, as they highlight the regions with the strongest contrast enhancement.

MRA Brain MIP images

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