Method and apparatus using post contrast-enhanced steady-state free precession in MR imaging

摘要

A system and method are disclosed that use the steady-state free precessing (SSFP) technique for MR imaging to allow the acquisition of MR angiography images in which the acquisition is not time dependent upon the first passage of a contrast agent. The technique includes applying a pulse sequence with refocusing S<-> signals (162) from a train of RF pulses to a desired field-of-view (FOV) in a patient in which a contrast bolus has been injected. An SSFP image (164) of the desired FOV is acquired, together with an S<-> SSFP mask image (162) of the desired FOV. The S<-> SSFP mask image (162) is subtracted (172) from the SSFP image (164) in order to reconstruct an image (174, 176) with improved visualization of the arterial and venous structures and reduce mis-registration artifacts (168). <IMAGE>