High Frame Rate CINEMA: An Improvement of Temporal Resolution in Non-Contrast-Enhanced Time-Resolved MR Angiography

Masanobu Nakamura¹, Masami Yoneyama¹, Takashi Tabuchi¹, Atsushi Takahara², Makoto Obara², Taro Takahara³, Satoshi Tatsuno¹

Recently, a new technique was presented for non-contrast volumetric time-resolved MRA (Contrast inherent INflow Enhanced Multi phase Angiography; CINEMA) [3]. This technique requires no catheter insertion or contrast agent and provides useful qualitative information on the dynamic filling by the temporal resolution of 200msec in intracranial vessels. However, temporal resolution of this technique is not satisfactory to visualize complex flow patterns such as cerebral aneurysm and AVM. In this study we present a CINEMA sequence with k-t BLAST [4] that produces high temporal resolution non-contrast time-resolved MR Angiograms (CINEMA-HERO). We investigate non-contrast time-resolved MRA with a modified CINEMA sequence with feasibility study results in healthy volunteers and cerebrovascular disease patients.