MR angiography is well suited in the evaluation of the aorta and it’s major branches. The high quality of the images obtained provides a noninvasive means to replace catheter based angiography in a wide variety of situations.

A simple I.V. injection of a safe contrast agent (gadolinium-DTPA) allows detailed visualization of common abnormaliites previously requiring placement of a catheter. The fact that this contrast agent is not toxic to the kidneys makes MR angiography the initial test of choice in patients with impaired renal function.

On the 1.5 Tesla state of the art Siemens Symphony MR scanner operated by Turville Bay MR Center at St. Mary’s Hospital, a MR fluoroscopically triggered acquisition produces reproducible high quality images sufficient for diagnosis and surgical planning.

Common indications include: thoracic aortic aneurysm within the chest or abdomen, coarctation, aortic dissection, subclavian steal, thoracic outlet syndrome, vasculitis, congenital abnormalities and atherosclerotic stenoses.

Please review the cases below for typical examples:

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Case 1: Saccular aneurysm thoracic aorta

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Case 2: Volume rendered 3-D MRI images of pediatric coarctation of the aorta. Note demonstration of extensive collaterals

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Case 3: Abdominal aortic aneurysm

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Case 4: Brachial artery embolus

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Case 5: Subclavian stenosis

Other Services

	Peripheral Angiography and Angioplasty Diagnostic angiography and therpeutic angioplasty and stenting for treatment of peripheral vascular disease
	Multi-Detector Row CT These scanners change the way physicians look at scans
	CT of Acute Abdominal Pain Analysis of the role of CT in the setting of acute abdominal pain
	Peripheral MRA of the Extremities MRI technique for patients with claudication, rest pain or extremity ulcer without the need for catheter angiography
	Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Positron Emission Tomography (PET imaging) has exploded into the medical imaging arena
	MRI of the Pelvis The role of MRI in benign and malignant disease of the uterus, cervix and ovaries
	Advances in MR Imaging Non-invasive methods to image bile ducts and other static fluids
	Cardiac MRI Rapidly advancing method to evaluate ischemic heart disease and for the detection of hibernating myocardium
	Uterine Artery Embolization A non-surgical alternative to hysterectomy for the treatment of fibroid tumors of the uterus
	Percutaneous Vertebroplasty Method to treat painful spinal compression fractures
	Carotid and Vertebral Artery Stenting A new technique as an alternative to surgical endarterectomy in specific circumstances
	Aneurysm Coiling Alternative to surgical treatment of cerebral aneurysms in specific circumstances
	Renal Artery Stenosis Screening For the evaluation of medically resistant high blood pressure