Comprehensive Non-Contrast-Enhanced MRI of the Thoracic Aortic Dissection: Non-Contrast-Enhanced 3D MRA and Time-Resolved 3D Flow Tracking Techniques

Yasuo Amano¹, Ryo Takagi¹, Yuriko Suzuki², Testuro Sekine¹, Yoshio Matsumura¹, Katsuya Takahama¹, Shinichiro Kumita¹, Van Cauteren Marc²

Non-contrast-enhanced 3D MRA acquired by turbo spin-echo or steady-state free precession depict thoracic aortic dissection, but it lacks in the flow information at the entry, ulcer-like projection, and true and false lumen. Time-resolved 3D flow tracking generated from 3D phase-contrast imaging provided the blood flow data and visualized the streamline or velocity vector in aortic dissection. The combination of unenhanced 3D MRA and time-resolved 3D flow tracking may be useful for the comprehensive evaluation of the thoracic aortic dissection.