"Flow-Void Enhanced" Volumetric Black-Blood Angiography using 3D-TSE with Very Low-Constant Refocusing Flip Angles & Sensitized Flow Compensation

Masami Yoneyama¹, Masnobu Nakamura¹, Tomoyuki Okuaki¹, Takashi Tabuchi¹, Atsushi Takemura², Makoto Obara², Junko Ogura¹

3D RARE (TSE) sequence is promising for black-blood angiography. In this study, we propose a new scheme of sequence parameter optimization for "flow-void enhanced" volumetric black-blood angiography. All experiments were performed on a 3.0T imager. Methods were flowing phantom study and volunteer study. From the results, optimal parameter for black-blood angiography was: very low refocusing flip angles, pseudo steady-state preparation chosen "90+alpha/2" preparation. Furthermore, "sensitized" flow-compensation at the "in-plane flow" imaging plane, that was more flow-voided in parallel direction of flow and phase-encode. This optimal sequence can be used for 3D volumetric black-blood angiography and vessel wall imaging.