Continuously Moving Table Time-of-Flight Angiography of the Peripheral Veins

Time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography allows for noninvasive vessel imaging. To overcome the limited volumetric coverage of standard TOF techniques, the aim of this study was to investigate the combination of TOF and continuously moving table (CMT) acquisitions for peripheral vein imaging based on image subtraction. Two acquisition strategies are presented: a simple two-step method based on 2-fold CMT acquisition and an advanced one-step method requiring only one continuous scan. Image quality of both CMT TOF techniques was evaluated by semiquantitative image grading and by signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio analysis for veins of the upper and lower leg in 10 healthy volunteers. Results were compared to a standard stationary two-dimensional (2D) TOF multistation acquisition. Image grading revealed good image quality for both CMT TOF methods, thereby confirming the feasibility of axial 2D CMT TOF to assess the veins of the lower extremities during a single scan. Quantitative evaluation showed no significant difference in signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio compared to the stationary experiment. Additional measurements in three patients with post-thrombotic changes and varicosities demonstrated the clinical applicability of the presented methods. CMT TOF provides promising results and permits the detection of various pathologic changes of the venous system. Magn Reson Med 63:1219-1229, 2010. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.