REACT-MIX for simultaneous non-contrast-enhanced MR angiography and vascular calcification imaging with modified PSIR framework

Motivation: Visualizing vascular calcifications is crucial for atherosclerosis assessment, guiding interventions, and predicting risks. Existing MRI techniques fall short in this regard, necessitating additional time-consuming scans or resorting to CTA. Goal(s): To develop a new non-contrast, single-scan solution to simultaneously acquire MR angiography (MRA) and calcification-weighted images (CWI). Approach: We redesigned and extended the existing Relaxation-Enhanced Angiography without ContrasT (REACT) framework with different pre-pulses, termed REACT-MIX. Volunteers were used for feasibility testing, comparisons with existing techniques, and subsequent patient evaluations to assess vascular lesions. Results: Initial findings indicated good feasibility of simultaneous MRA and CWI, encouraging further clinical evaluation. Impact: REACT-MIX introduces a new approach enabling simultaneous non-contrast MR angiography and calcification-weighted imaging across a wide FOV in a single scan. It offers promise for clinical assessments of systemic atherosclerosis. Further studies are warranted to confirm its full potential.