4D phase contrast MRI in intracranial aneurysms: a comparison with patient-specific computational fluid dynamics with temporal and spatial velocity boundary conditions as measured with 3D phase contrast MRI

Background It is believed that hemodynamic factors contribute significantly to aneurysm formation, growth and rupture. Studies attempting to predict risk factors are mostly based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A disadvantage of CFD is that among other assumptions, often non-patient-specific inflow conditions are prescribed. 4D phase contrast MRI (4D PCMRI) for the assessment of hemodynamic features may be preferred. In this study high resolution 4D PCMRI measurements in intracranial aneurysms are presented and compared with patient-specific CFD simulations in which a spatial and temporal velocity profile as measured with throughplane PCMRI in three directions (3D PCMRI) is prescribed as inflow boundary conditions.