MRangiography

MRangiography is a non-invasive medical imaging technique used to visualize blood vessels. It is a specialized type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that focuses on the arteries and veins within the body. Unlike traditional angiography which often requires the injection of contrast dye into the bloodstream through a catheter, MRangiography typically uses a contrast agent that is injected intravenously, or in some cases, can generate images without contrast material at all. This method is particularly useful for examining blood vessels in the brain, neck, chest, abdomen, and legs.

The procedure works by detecting the flow of blood. As blood moves through vessels, it alters the magnetic properties that the MRI scanner measures, creating a signal that can be translated into an image. Different techniques exist within MRangiography, including time-of-flight (TOF) angiography, phase-contrast (PC) angiography, and contrast-enhanced MRangiography (CE-MRA). Each technique has its own advantages and is chosen based on the specific area of the body being examined and the information required by the physician. MRangiography can help diagnose conditions such as aneurysms, stenosis (narrowing of blood vessels), dissections, and blockages. It provides detailed anatomical information and is a valuable tool in the diagnosis and management of vascular diseases.