Coronary Magnetic Resonance Angiography

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the clinical applications of coronary angiography techniques. Coronary MRA can be instrumental in the evaluation of congenital coronary artery anomalies, however, the complexity of advanced MR pulse sequences and strategies may be overwhelming to many. Coronary MR Angiography demystifies the art of coronary MRA by providing a text in plain language with clearly illustrated imaging steps and protocols. Designed to bridge the gap between radiology and cardiology, it is written for physicians and scientists planning to incorporate this technique into their research or practice.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the heart allows a quick and exact evaluation of global and regional pump function, regional myocardial wall motion, myocardial perfusion and coronary blood flow. Some of these parameters must also be analyzed under stress conditions to identify myocardial ischemia. By combining these functional parameters with high-resolution anatomical images, which are even sufficient to depict the coronary arteries, magnetic resonance imaging has become one of the most important noninvasive procedures to study the condition of the heart and is being increasingly used in the clinical setting. Therefore, it is important not only to optimize and evaluate the technique in specialized centers, but also for a broad variety of users to become familiar with the wide range of applications for this method. In this book, which is aimed at cardiologists, radiologists, and technical assistants, the physical fundamentals and scanning techniques are clearly described. In addition, practical guidelines for the anatomical planning of the examination and for patient care are offered. The accompanying CD-ROM contains additional figures and numerous videos.

Magnetic Resonance Angiography: Principles and Applications is a comprehensive text covering magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in current clinical use. The first part of the book focuses on techniques, with chapters on contrast-enhanced MRA, time of flight, phase contrast, time-resolved angiography, and coronary MRA, as well as several chapters devoted to new non-contrast MRA techniques. Additionally, chapters describe in detail specific topics such as high-field MRA, susceptibility-weighted imaging, acceleration strategies such as parallel imaging, vessel wall imaging, targeted contrast agents, and low dose contrast-enhanced MRA. The second part of the book covers clinical applications of MRA, with each chapter describing the MRA techniques and protocols for a particular disease and vascular territory, as well as the pathology and imaging findings relevant to the disease state being discussed. Magnetic Resonance Angiography: Principles and Applications is designed to bring together into a single textbook all of the MRA techniques in clinical practice today and will be a valuable resource for practicing radiologists and other physicians involved in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases, as well as biomedical physicists, MRI technologists, residents, and fellows. Editors James C. Carr, MD, is the Director of Cardiovascular Imaging and Associate Professor of Radiology and Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Timothy J. Carroll, PhD, is the Director of MRI Research and Associate Professor in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA. Magnetic Resonance Angiography: Principles and Applications is designed to bring together into a single textbook all of the MRA techniques in clinical practice today and will be a valuable resource for practicing radiologists and other physicians involved in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases, as well as biomedical physicists, MRI technologists, residents, and fellows. Editors James C. Carr, MD, is Director of Cardiovascular Imaging and Associate Professor of Radiology and Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Timothy J. Carroll, PhD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Editors James C. Carr, MD, is Director of Cardiovascular Imaging and Associate Professor of Radiology and Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Timothy J. Carroll, PhD, is the Director of MRI Research and Associate Professor in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.

The significantly updated second edition of this important work provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), a rapidly evolving tool for diagnosis and intervention of cardiovascular disease. New and updated chapters focus on recent applications of CMR such as electrophysiological ablative treatment of arrhythmias, targeted molecular MRI, and T1 mapping methods. The book presents a state-of-the-art compilation of expert contributions to the field, each examining normal and pathologic anatomy of the cardiovascular system as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Functional techniques such as myocardial perfusion imaging and assessment of flow velocity are emphasized, along with the exciting areas of artherosclerosis plaque imaging and targeted MRI. This cutting-edge volume represents a multi-disciplinary approach to the field, with contributions from experts in cardiology, radiology, physics, engineering, physiology and biochemistry, and offers new directions in noninvasive imaging. The Second Edition of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging is an essential resource for cardiologists and radiologists striving to lead the way into the future of this important field.

A comprehensive overview of the current state of development in magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). After an initial outline of the basic principles of the technique and a general description of flow phenomena, the individual chapters are devoted to a full range of technical considerations. Practical recommendations for typical examination protocols of different vascular areas and lesions are given to facilitate correct application of the procedure. The advantages and drawbacks of MRA are discussed in comparison with other imaging techniques, and a catalogue of generally accepted indications is provided. To complete the picture, the book looks at possible future developments.

In the intervening 10 years tremendous advances in the field of cardiac computed tomography have occurred. We now can legitimately claim that computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the coronary arteries is available. In the evaluation of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), many guidelines today consider CTA an alternative to stress testing. The use of CTA in primary prevention patients is more controversial in considering diagnostic test interpretation in populations with a low prevalence to disease. However the nuclear technique most frequently used by cardiologists is myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). The combination of a nuclear camera with CTA allows for the attainment of coronary anatomic, cardiac function and MPI from one piece of equipment. PET/SPECT cameras can now assess perfusion, function, and metabolism. Assessing cardiac viability is now fairly routine with these enhancements to cardiac imaging. This issue is full of important information that every cardiologist needs to now.

In this completely revised second edition, internationally acknowledged experts discuss the principles and technical aspects of MR angiography, its diverse clinical applications, and its advantages and limitations. A large number of typical MR angiograms are presented, suitable protocols are described, and comparison is made with other vascular imaging techniques. Chapters focus on image display techniques, blood flow quantification, hardware configurations, and the limitations and artifacts of MR angiography. Suitable examination protocols for different vascular regions and lesions are described to facilitate correct application of the technique. Systematic comparison is made with other vascular imaging techniques.

As MRI has paved its role in diagnostic angiography. MRA has the potential to provide more physiological and pathophysiological data over the disease in addition to the anatomical information. This book is divided into three sections. The first section discusses the basics of MRI angiography. It starts with focus on the contrast agents that are mainly used in MR angiography with detailed discussion of advantage and limitations of different types of contrast. The second chapter is oriented more towards the technical consideration that contribute to good quality examination, both the non contrast and contrast based sequences from black to bright blood imaging , contrast enhanced MRA, review of clinical application of MRA in different body systems and MR venography. The second section reviews the clinical application of MRI mainly in the head and neck and brain ischemia imaging. The new high resolution intracranial plaque imaging of the branch athermanous disease, to the hemodynamic of intracranial atherosclerotic stroke and quantitative MRA imaging in neurovascular imaging, are the topics in this section. Also this section covers the future prospective and the new frontiers MRI angiography is exploring. In the third section, MRA of aortic disease in children with emphasis on cardiac MRA.