Magnetic resonance angiography and blood flow quantification.

A variety of magnetic resonance (MR) techniques are available for flow imaging and quantification, each exploiting a different property of flowing blood to achieve contrast with stationary tissue, and each with its own strengths and limitations dependent on the flow conditions. These same techniques have been used to perform MR angiography of peripheral as well as the coronary arteries. This article provides an overview of MR angiographic and blood flow quantification techniques and their clinical application. Future technical advances in MR in concert with continuing developments in computer software and hardware are likely to make MR a major vascular technique in the coming decade.