NATIVE SPACE Angiography with MTC and Fat Saturation Pulses

Introduction Non-contrast angiography emerges as an alternative method from contrast MRA due to the association of gadolinium based-agent with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NFS). A non-contrast MRA technique using gated 3D Turbo Spin Echo has been reported for various clinical applications [1][2]. Recently, a novel technique using triggered non-selective refocused 3D SPACE or called NATIVE SPACE (NATIVE = Non-contrast Angiography of the Arteries and Veins, SPACE = Sampling Perfection with Application Optimized Contrast by using different flip angle Evolution) was shown to improve spatial resolution and speed [3]. In this technique, triggered phase contrast flow measurements were performed to determine the peak and the minimal flow within the cardiac cycle. Images were subtracted from the SPACE acquisition during the period of high and slow flow. SPACE with its variable flip angle technique further helps achieve lower SAR and short TR which results in short total acquisition time. In this abstract, we propose to use magnetization transfer pulse and fat saturation pulses to help suppress the background tissue and fat signal to further improve the images of the vessels.