Wedeen V J, Meuli R A, Edelman R R, Geller S C, Frank L R, Brady T J, Rosen B R
Science. 1985 Nov 22;230(4728):946-8. doi: 10.1126/science.4059917.
Noninvasive angiography with magnetic resonance is demonstrated. Signal arising in all structures except vessels that carry pulsatile flow is eliminated by means of velocity-dependent phase contrast, electrocardiographic gating, and image subtraction. Background structures become in effect transparent, enabling the three-dimensional vascular tree to be imaged by projection to a two-dimensional image plane. Image acquisition and processing are accomplished with entirely conventional two-dimensional Fourier transform magnetic resonance imaging techniques. When imaged at 0.6 tesla, vessels 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter are routinely detected in a 50-centimeter field of view with data acquisition times less than 15 minutes. Studies of normal and pathologic anatomy are illustrated in human subjects.
