Sheng-Hsiou Hsu1, Chien-Hsiang Huang1, 2, Tiing-Yee Siow1, Yi-Hua Hsu1, Chiao-Chi V. Chen1, Chen Chang1
1Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; 2Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Current magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) methods offer techniques for imaging large vessels but have limited values in the imaging of smaller vessels such as arterioles and venules. 3D GR2 microscopic magnetic resonance angiography (3D GR2 mMRA), utilizes the administration of iron oxide contrast agent to visualize microvasculature. However, the complications associated with the use of the contrast agent limit the application of the method in the clinical settings. In this study, we proposed a new 3D gas challenge GR2* mMRA (3D gas GR2* mMRA) method that used intrinsic BOLD contrast manipulated by carbogen challenge to directly visualize cerebral microvasculature.