In-Vitro Validation of Phase Contrast MRI in a Stenotic Phantom Under Steady Flow Using PIV

Introduction: Blood flow dynamics has an important role in atherosclerosis initiation, progression, and thrombosis leading to occlusive arterial diseases [1]. Since the development of Phase Contrast MRI (PC-MRI), it has been widely used to measure the velocity and flow in blood vessels. Accuracy of the PC-MRI velocity measurements in a 1.5T scanner has previously been evaluated using Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) as the gold standard [2]. In this study, we used PC-MRI on a 7T scanner to estimate the velocity field in a severely stenosed phantom and compared the results with those obtained by Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique. Unlike LDA, PIV provides a snapshot of the entire velocity field and consequently serves as more appropriate basis for validation purposes.