Noncontrast hybrid arterial spin-labeled imaging of the intracranial arteries

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate feasibility, image quality (IQ), and accuracy of noncontrast hybrid arterial spin labeling (NoHASL) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) comparedwith time of flight (TOF) MRA and contrast-enhanced (CE)MRA in patients with known/suspected cerebrovascular ischemia. Methods: Thirty inpatients were imaged at 1.5 T. Two neuroradiologists assessed 630 intracranial arterial segments for IQ (1, nondiagnostic; 3, satisfactory for diagnosis; and 5, excellent). Hemodynamically significant stenosis (>50%) was assessed against all combined techniques as reference. Results: The NoHASLMRA IQ was diagnostic (3.32 ± 0.86) but affected by signal to noise rat..