Predicting MR angiography image appearance for realistic models of stenosed carotid and renal arteries

Magnetic resonance angiography is one of the modern medical imaging protocols in diagnosis of vascular diseases. Its attractiveness lies in the minimal invasiveness of the MRI modality and also in the fact that vessels can be visualized without application of any tracer agent. MRA however is an expensive procedure and thus it is often replaced by the invasive, although less expensive, computer tomography. Due to the contrast enhancement, CT angiography performs better at revealing fine details of anomalies in vessels geometry, such as stenosis. This paper presents a framework for simulating realistic MR angiography images and provides quantitative assessment of reliability of MRA sequences in reproducing correct level of renal and carotid stenosis.