High resolution, high speed venographic MR imaging using susceptibility effect

A new technique for imaging venous vasculature is described. The technique explores the use of paramagnetic deoxyhemoglobin (Hb) in blood as an endogenous contrast agent. The presence of Hb induces magnetic field inhomogeneity within and surrounding venous blood vessels. This in turn results in water proton spin phase dispersion and consequently signal attenuation in and around venous vessels in a gradient echo image. Using high resolution susceptibility-sensitized echo planar MRI pulse sequences, whole brain venographic images based on this contrast mechanism can be obtained within a few seconds. The new method holds great potential for applications in both basic research and clinical arena.