Method for separating arteries and veins in 3D MR angiographic images using correlation analysis

摘要

In a 3D magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) method, a region of interest, containing a major pulmonary vessel, is defined in an examination subject, and the subject is injected with a contrast agent bolus and a number of 3D magnetic resonance angiography data sets are obtained from the examination subject before, during and after arrival of the bolus in the region of interest. A slice from each of the data sets is selected which contains the region of interest, and an average region of interest signal as a function of time is determined and stored as a reference time curve. In the respective selected slices, a signal-time curve is identified and each signal-time curve is cross-correlated with the reference time curve. The cross-correlation results are used to form a new three-dimensional data set containing arterial and venous correlation maps. Maximum intensity projections are computed from the arterial and venous correlation maps for producing a visualized image of the pulmonary vasculature in the region of interest, the arteries and veins in the respective maximum intensity projections being clearly distinguishable.