Method and apparatus using post contrast-enhanced steady-state free precession in MR imaging

摘要

A system and method are disclosed that use the steady-state free precessing (SSFP) technique for MR imaging to allow the acquisition of MR angiography images in which the acquisition is not time dependent upon the first passage of a contrast agent. The technique includes applying a pulse sequence with refocusing S^− signals from a train of RF pulses to a desired field-of-view (FOV) in a patient in which a contrast bolus has been injected. An SSFP image of the desired FOV is acquired, together with an S^− SSFP mask image of the desired FOV. The S^− SSFP mask image is subtracted from the SSFP image in order to reconstruct an image with improved visualization of the arterial and venous structures and reduce mis-registration artifacts.