Echo-planar Imaging-based Rapid Simultaneous MR Angiography and Venography with Dedicated Flow-related Ghosting Suppression

Motivation: Ghost artifact of large vessels impede the use of echo-planar imaging(EPI) for accelerated MR Angiography(MRA) or MR Venography(MRV) acquisitions. Goal(s): To analyze the physical principles of flow-related ghost, and develop targeted technical approaches to suppress the artifact, enabling EPI-based rapid and high-fidelity simultaneous MRAV. Approach: By employing techniques including point-spread function modeling, alternating flow-compensation scheme, flow-related phase-based reconstruction, and automatic detection and correction algorithms, rapid in-vivo vascular imaging were achieved. Results: DEPSAV-II achieved cerebral MRAV with suppressed ghost artifacts and comparable vascular depiction with GRE-based methods in 6 minutes, thereby improving the accessibility of comprehensive vascular examination in routine clinical practices. Impact: Developed a suite of techniques to overcome flow-related ghosting of large vessels which tackling EPI-based rapid arteriovenous-imaging methods. DEPSAV-II’s simultaneous MRAV and significant time-reduction may benefit clinical studies and practices like small vessel diseases requiring comprehensive arterial and venous examination.