MRA Imaging

Question 1

What time of pulse sequence does MR Angiography utilize?

Answer 1

gradient echo pulse sequence

Question 2

TOF stands for?

Answer 2

time of flight

Question 3

TOF MRA sequences use T1s or T2?

Answer 3

T1s with TR and flip angle

This suppresses the signal from stationary tissues, visualizing blood flow by flow -related enhancement

Question 4

Phase Contrast MRA uses T1s or T2?

Answer 4

T2 that relies on velocity-induced phase shifts for vascular signal.

Question 5

Blood velocities are GREATER at the _____ of the vessel.

Near the wall OR the center

Answer 5

center :)

Question 6

What is an arterio-venous malformation? What is the abbreviation for this?

Answer 6

AVM- it is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins, that’s usually formed before birth.

Question 7

What is the difference between laminar flow and vortex flow??

Answer 7

LAMINAR is flow that is different but consistent velocities

VORTEX is initially laminar but when it comes across a stenosis, it has HIGH velocities at the center of vessel and spiral flow at the walls.

Question 8

What is turbulent flow?

Answer 8

Blood flow that has different velocities that fluctuate randomly (random flow)

Question 9

If I am looking at a LARGE area, would I do TOF MRA or 3D TOF MRA?

Answer 9

TOF, those are used for larger coverage areas. We use thicker slices on these.

Question 10

The vertebral artery supplies blood to what part of the brain ?

Anterior, posterior, or lateral?

Answer 10

posterior!!

think about that your vertebraes are in your BACK

Question 11

Your ECA (external carotid artery) feeds what part of your body??

The face or the brain?

Answer 11

FACE

Question 12

a head MRA is considered a _______ MRA exam

intracranial or extracranial?

Answer 12

intracranial- its looking at the BRAIN.

Question 13

a neck MRA is considered a _______ MRA exam

intracranial or extracranial?

Answer 13

extracranial, even tho the carotids are feeding your brain, they are not necessarily IN your brain.

Question 14

If I have a super small vessel I want to look at, would I use TOF MRA or 3D TOF MRA?

Answer 14

3DTOF - SMALLER VESSELS!!

uses thin slices.

Question 15

your ICA (internal carotid artery) feeds what part of your body?

face or brain?

Answer 15

BRAIN.

I always remember it this way. my BRAIN is super IMPORTANT.

Question 16

If a vessel has SLOW flow, what is the best type of imaging to use to detect flow?

Answer 16

phase contrast MRA.

Question 17

What is the most longest type of MRA we have?

Answer 17

phase contrast MRA.

Question 18

the right common carotid does NOT originate directly off the aorta

True or False

Answer 18

True. it does NOT branch directly off the aorta

Question 19

If I’d like to image the circle of willis (MRA HEAD), what type of technique would be best? and why?

Answer 19

3D Time of Flight (TOF)

This is because 3D TOF is the best for imaging smaler vessels like the circle of willis.

Question 20

The left and right vertebral arteries originate from the ____ arteries.

Answer 20

subclavian

Question 21

The right and left vertebrals come together to form what artery?

Answer 21

the midline basilar artery

Question 22

THE CCA bifuraction is found at what level in the spine?

Answer 22

C3-C4

Question 23

What is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta?

Answer 23

the celiac trunk then the SMA is second

Question 24

Branches starting from the first branch of the aorta includes:

Answer 24

Celiac, SMA, renal and IMAs (inferior mesenteric)

Question 25

The portal vein ____ the liver.

Feeds or drains?

Answer 25

feeds. It gets blood from the spleen and GI tract to feed the liver.

Question 26

What is the second major branch of the abdominal aorta?

Answer 26

the SMA (superior mesenteric artery)

Question 27

The PV is formed by the splenic veins and SMA/IMA.

True or False

Answer 27

True

Question 28

the IVC is formed by the right and left ______ veins

Answer 28

common iliac veins

Question 29

If we are doing a MRA run off, what anatomy do we need to cover?

Answer 29

from the iliac bifurcation to the dorsal pedis artery (at the anterior portion of the foot)