MRA

Author

Assistant

Introduction

Used to evaluate the brain?s arterial anatomy

Indications (study of / in suspicion of):

Aneurysm

Stenosis/occlusion related to stroke, or carotid stenosis

Dissection

Arteriovenous malformations

Done without contrast (MRA ? brain), hence it is a good alternative to CT angiography for patients on whom contrast cannot be used. However, MRA – Neck requires gadolinium contrast.

 

Left MCA Aneurysm – MRA

The MRA performed on a 3T magnet shows an aneurysm of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) demonstrated in the global frontal view (left image) by a large white arrow, and in the magnified view of the MCA (yellow arrow)

Image Courtesy of Philips Medical Systems 92812.8

MRA of LMCA stenosis

The MRA performed on a 3T magnet shows a stenosis (arrow) of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) demonstrated in the global frontal view (left image) , and in the magnified view of the MCA

Courtesy of Philips Medical Systems 92813c