Tom Okell1,2, Matthias Guenther3, David A. Feinberg4, Peter Jezzard1
1FMRIB Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxon, UK; 2Churchill Hospital, Oxford, Oxon, UK; 3University of Heidelberg, Germany; 4Advanced MRI Technologies, CA, USA
In this study we demonstrate for the first time a new method for non-invasive selective dynamic angiography using the principles of arterial spin labeling (ASL). A pseudo-continuous ASL labeling module was inserted in front of a low flip angle flow-compensated cine angiographic readout module. This allows selective labeling and visualization of the major feeding arteries to the brain, analogous to the invasive alternative method of intra-arterial x-ray digital subtraction angiography. The new method has potential applications in a number of cerebrovascular diseases, such as carotid or vertebral stenosis, arterio-venous malformation, and stroke.