Dynamic Evaluation of Flow in the Lower Extremity Peripheral Arteries using Cine Fast Interrupted Steady-State in Combination with Arterial Spin Labeling.

For non-invasive evaluation of peripheral artery disease in the lower extremities prior to revascularization, physicians rely on contrast-enhanced CT angiography and magnetic resonance angiography which generate static images in the arterial phase and do not reveal blood flow. We adapted a prototype non-contrast MRA technique, cine fast interrupted steady-state in combination with arterial spin labeling (cine FISS ASL), to facilitate dynamic visual and quantitative flow evaluation of the lower extremity peripheral arteries. In-plane flow patterns were well visualized and there was very strong positive correlation between peak flow velocities measured by cine FISS ASL and 2D phase contrast MRA.