Abstract：Objective To explore the effects of combination of multiple techniques including MOTSA (Multiple Overlapped Thin Slab Acquisition), TONE (Tilt Optimized Non-saturation Excitation) and MT (Magnetization Transfer) on TOF-MRA (Time-of-flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography) imaging quality and the scanning time. Methods TOF-MRA was performed in 50 healthy volunteers recruited in this study with deployment of six different scanning sequences so as to obtain the original images, and MIP (Maximum Intensity Projection) reconstruction was applied thereafter. The six scanning sequences included TOF-MOTSA28(20%)-TONE-MT, TOF-MOTSA28(28.57%)-TONE-MT, TOF-MOTSA40(20%)-TONE-MT, TOF-MOTSA56(20%)-TONE-MT, TOF-MOTSA40(20%)-MT and TOF-MOTSA40(20%)-TONE (MOTSA28, MOTSA40 and MOTSA56 indicated that the number of slice per thin slab was 28, 40 and 56 respectively; whereas 20% or 28.57% referred to the proportion of the overlapped thin slab). Then, comparisons were made among MIP-reconstructed images obtained using the six scanning sequences in the completeness, uniformity, smoothness in vascular transition between adjacent slabs and the time consumed in each scanning procedure (the scanning time herein is defined as the time consumed in scanning under the same number of effective slice). Results Vessel interruption was shown at the junction of the slab in 50 MIP-reconstructed images obtained in the sequence of TOF-MOTSA28(20%)-TONE-MT; whereas no vessel interruption was found in images obtained in other sequences. Scanning with the sequence of TOF-MOTSA28(28.57%)-TONE-MT in 50 volunteers was the most time-consuming in comparison with those with other sequences; among 50 images obtained in the sequence of TOF-MOTSA28(28.57%)-TONE-MT, 48 had complete and uniform manifestations of volume arteries and smooth vascular transition between adjacent slabs. MIP-reconstructed images obtained with the sequence of TOF-MOTSA40(20%)-TONE-MT in 45 volunteers were complete and uniform in demonstration of volume arteries and smooth vascular transition between adjacent slabs. The scanning sequences of TOF-MOTSA56(20%)-TONE-MT and TOF-MOTSA40(20%)-MT resulted in decreased signals of the parallelly-distributed vessels in 33 cases and the outlets in 35 cases respectively. Among 50 images obtained in the most time-saving sequence - TOF-MOTSA40(20%)-TONE in comparison with deployment of other sequences, 36 cases showed decreased or disappearing signals in peripheral vessels. Conclusion Deployment of combination of multiple techniques in craniocerebral angiography in the 3D-TOF-MRA sequences can mitigate the saturation effect of blood flow more effectively and enhance the signals in the slow and peripheral blood flow. Optimized configurations of multiple techniques can permit the time-saving acquisition of high-quality images.
肖建明，陈志凡，陈云涛，彭涛. 提高3D TOF-MRA图像质量的研究[J]. 中国医疗设备, 2013, 28(10): 158-161.
XIAO Jian-ming, CHEN Zhi-fan, CHEN Yun-tao, PENG Tao. Research on 3D of Quality Improvement TOF-MRA Images. China Medical Devices, 2013, 28(10): 158-161.
