[The MR phase contrast method. Determination of blood flow velocity and flow profile of intracranial arteries].

2D-phase-contrast mapping is a MR method that allows for quantitative measurements of blood flow velocity in intracranial vessels. Using a modified FISP-Sequence with a 1.5 T MR scanner, flow studies were carried out on a phantom. Two matrix sizes (256 x 256 vs. 256 x 512) were compared. In 20 healthy volunteers blood flow velocity and profile of the basal (BA), middle cerebral (MCA), and anterior cerebral artery (ACA) were compared with the corresponding findings of transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography. 2DPK and TCD yielded equivalent velocity data and profiles of the BA. The blood flow velocity in the MCA determined by 2DPK was lower than the TCD values. Using a 256 x 512 matrix, the acquired data were in better accordance with the TCD findings. Due to significant noise measurements of the ACA and PCA were frequently degraded.