颈动脉粥样硬化磁共振血管成像和彩色多普勒超声对比研究

目的 探讨彩色多普勒和磁共振血管成像(MRA)对颈动脉粥样硬化的诊断价值.方法 用CDFI及MRA 2种方法检查42例缺血性脑梗塞患者和40例对照组的颈动脉.超声检查颈动脉内径、测量颈动脉内膜-中层厚度(IMT)、最狭窄处管径,了解斑块情况,观察颈动脉狭窄程度.MRA检查颈动脉内径,测量病变动脉信号缺失情况,判断颈动脉狭窄程度.结果 超声检查显示缺血性脑梗塞患者颈动脉病变发生率明显高于对照组(P＜0.001).本组病例轻度、重度狭窄的MRA与超声诊断完全符合.1例血管闭塞超声低估为重度狭窄,1例超声判断为中度狭窄MRA高估为重度狭窄.MRA和超声结果具有极好的一致性.结论 超声与MRA在诊断颈动脉狭窄中具有互补作用,两者结合使用能提高评估狭窄程度的准确性.     

彩色多普勒超声对颈动脉体瘤的诊断价值

 目的 探讨彩色多普勒超声在颈动脉体瘤诊断中的应用价值.方法 回顾性分析7例颈动脉体瘤患者的二维及彩色多普勒超声表现.所有病例均经手术病理证实.结果 颈动脉体瘤二维超声表现为颈动脉分叉处见实质性低回声肿块,边界清晰,边缘规则或呈分叶状.肿瘤较小时,多位于颈总动脉分叉处,使颈内、外动脉间距增大,形状多较规则;肿瘤较大时,常围绕血管生长.彩色多普勒超声均可见肿瘤内有较丰富的彩色血流信号,以动脉血流为主;CDFI还能清晰显示肿瘤与颈动脉的关系.结论 二维及彩色多普勒超声对诊断颈动脉体瘤具有无创、安全、特异性、准确性高的特点,有利于同颈部其他性质包块的鉴别诊断,是目前颈动脉体瘤诊断的首选方法.     

彩色多普勒超声诊断肝移植术后下腔静脉栓塞及狭窄

目的:探讨彩色多普勒超声诊断肝移植术后下腔静脉栓塞及狭窄的价值.材料和方法:回顾性分析103例成人肝移植术后9例下腔静脉栓塞及狭窄的彩色多普勒超声表现.结果:超声发现下腔静脉栓塞7例,下腔静脉狭窄2例,均经血管造影、磁共振或临床证实.下腔静脉栓塞超声表现为吻合口及下腔静脉内部分或完全被等回声充填,彩色多普勒及频谱多普勒显示充填部分血流信号消失;下腔静脉狭窄的超声表现为吻合口血流紊乱且血流速度加快.结论:多普勒超声在肝移植术后下静脉栓塞及狭窄的诊断中具有重要的价值.     

彩色多普勒超声诊断肝移植术后下腔静脉栓塞及狭窄

目的：探讨彩色多普勒超声诊断肝移植术后下腔静脉栓塞及狭窄的价值。材料和方法：回顾性分析103例成人肝移植术后9例下腔静脉栓塞及狭窄的彩色多普勒超声表现。结果：超声发现下腔静脉栓塞7例，下腔静脉狭窄2例，均经血管造影、磁共振或临床证实。下腔静脉栓塞超声表现为吻合口及下腔静脉内部分或完全被等回声充填，彩色多普勒及频谱多普勒显示充填部分血流信号消失；下腔静脉狭窄的超声表现为吻合口血流紊乱且血流速度加快。结论：多普勒超声在肝移植术后下静脉栓塞及狭窄的诊断中具有重要的价值。     

MR和CT血管造影在诊断颈动脉狭窄及内膜切除术后随访中的价值

目的 探讨磁共振血管造影（MRA）、CT血管造影（CTA）在诊断颈动脉狭窄及内膜切除术后随访中的价值。方法 11例22支颈动脉行MRA、CTA、CT仿真内窥镜（CTVE）、多普勒超声（DUS）检查。12支结果与DSA对照。3支颈动脉重度狭窄者行内膜切除术,MRA采用二维、三维时间飞越法。CTA经最大强度投影（MIP）及遮盖表现显示法（SSD）三维重建。应用导航功能行CTVE成像。结果 颈动脉轻度狭窄8支,中度狭窄3支,重度狭窄5支,闭塞1支,5支正常。12支颈动脉与DSA对照：CTA评估血管狭窄与DSA相符者11支,MRA与DSA相符者9支,DUS与DSA相符者7支。CTA、CTVE显示斑块、壁血栓6支,3支手术证实。术后MRA示狭窄解除,CTA示斑块消失。结论 MRA、DUS可用于颈动脉狭窄的筛选及术后随访。CTA评估血管狭窄程度与DSA、手术比较有较好的一致性,并能直接显示钙化斑块。     

彩色多普勒血流会聚法定量诊断二尖瓣狭窄的研究

本研究应用Ｍ型彩色多普勒血流会聚法、二维彩色多普勒血流会聚法测量２１例以二尖瓣狭窄为主的风心病患者二尖瓣狭窄瓣口面积，并分别与二维超声直接测面积法及多普勒超声压力减半时间法所测二尖瓣口面积相比较。结果表明，Ｍ型彩色多普勒血流会聚法与二维彩色多普勒血流会聚法在检测二尖瓣狭窄瓣口面积方面基本可靠，但两者的准确性无显著差异。本文初步分析了Ｍ型彩色多普勒血流会聚法及二维彩色多普载血流会聚法测量二尖瓣狭窄瓣口面积的优缺点及临床价值。     

彩色多普勒超声在颈动脉内膜剥脱术中的应用研究

目的:探讨二维超声及彩色多普勒血流显像(CDFI)技术在颈动脉内膜剥脱术中的应用价值。方法:应用彩色多普勒超声对43例颈动脉狭窄的患者于颈动脉内膜剥脱术(carotid endarterectomy,CEA)前后进行检查并对比分析,包括颈内动脉、颈总动脉病变的部位、范围、性质、血管内径、狭窄率及血流动力学参数等,并与血管造影(DSA)结果进行对照分析。结果:术后血管内径显著增宽,血流速度明显下降,血流动力学参数明显改善,狭窄得到解除,超声与DSA对颈动脉狭窄的测值基本相符。结论:彩色多普勒超声对颈动脉粥样硬化斑块所致狭窄、闭塞的诊断率高,能够客观反映治疗前后血流动力学改变,在颈动脉内膜剥脱术前诊断及术后疗效评价中均具有重要价值。     

多发性大动脉炎外周血管病变的超声诊断

目的:探讨多发性大动脉炎外周血管病变的超声表现,提高对本病的认识.方法:采用美国泰索尼彩色多普勒超声诊断仪,探头频率10MHz,对9例大动脉炎患者外周血管进行二维及彩色多普勒超声检测.结果:9例大动脉炎患者受累血管分布为头臂动脉7例,其中锁骨下动脉7例,颈总动脉6例,腹主动脉2例,肾动脉2例,混合型2例.表现为病变动脉管壁不规则增厚、管腔狭窄或闭塞.根据狭窄程度不同,彩色多普勒呈高速湍流、低速血流及无血流信号.结论:超声诊断多发性大动脉炎外周血管病变有确切的价值,可作为临床诊断多发性大动脉炎的首选方法.     

彩色多普勒超声在颈动脉病变诊治中的应用

目的彩色多普勒超声在颈动脉病变诊治中的应用。方法应用彩色多普勒超声筛选出颈动脉粥样硬化斑块狭窄甚至闭塞的患者。超声检查内容包括斑块的大小、回声以及稳定性,斑块造成狭窄时,计算狭窄率,同时记录血管内径及血流动力学指标。重度狭窄及闭塞患者要评估颅内侧支循环的建立情况,并与磁共振血管成像(MRA)和血管造影(DSA)对比分析。最后经过临床筛选54例患者共56条颈动脉接受内膜剥脱术(CEA)或颈动脉扩张成形加支架植入(CAS)手术治疗(包括1例无症状颈动脉狭窄患者)。结果超声对斑块回声及其稳定性评价优于其它影像学,狭窄程度判断与其它影像基本相符合;对颅内侧支循环的评估与DSA相同但优于MRA;术后颈内动脉内径及血流速度较术前有明显改善,内径〔(4.1±0.5)mm VS(1.4±0.5)mm,P<0.01〕;流速〔(74.2±13.1)cm/s VS(205±132.4)cm/s,P<0.01〕。结论彩色多普勒超声对颈动脉病变的部位、范围、动脉硬化斑块的稳定性以及狭窄的程度诊断率高,能够客观反映血流动力学改变,评估颅内侧支循环的建立情况,为是否需要手术治疗提供科学依据。同时为评价治疗效果以及术后随访和临床无症状的健康筛查提供有效便捷的手段。     

下肢动脉硬化性闭塞症的超声诊断分析(附89例报告)

目的:探讨双功能彩色多普勒超声在诊断下肢动脉硬化症中的应用价值。方法:回顾性地分析了89例下肢动脉硬化性栓塞病例的二维超声图像及彩色多普勒血流显像改变。结果:二维超声图像上表现为病变血管内中膜呈不规则增厚,局部呈强回声斑显示,并向血管腔内突起,血管腔内径呈不规则狭窄,病变段血管腔内可见实性光团充填,彩色多普勒血流显像显示血管腔内未见血流信号显示。结论:双功能超声对下肢动脉硬化闭塞症的诊断具有很高的灵敏性和准确性。     

Detection of internal carotid artery stenosis: comparison of MR angiography, color Doppler sonography, and arteriography.

Findings of two-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance (MR) angiography projection angiograms were prospectively compared with those of color Doppler sonography by using angiography as a standard in 23 consecutive patients (42 carotid bifurcations) to evaluate their utility in determining the presence of carotid artery stenosis. MR angiography helped detect 50% or greater lumen diameter stenosis (sensitivity, 0.96; specificity, 0.64). Color Doppler sonography with 1.25 m/sec peak systolic velocity as a threshold had a sensitivity of 0.96 and a specificity of 0.71. Statistical analysis showed a correlation between percentage of lumen diameter narrowing and the length of the zone of signal intensity loss with MR angiography (r = .69; P less than .0001). A stronger relationship was obtained between angiographic narrowing and peak systolic velocity derived from color Doppler sonography (r = .80; P less than .0001). Two-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography displayed as projection angiograms and combined with carotid artery and combined with carotid artery sonography is a useful approach for helping detect and potentially grade the severity of stenoses of the carotid artery.     

Stenosis of the internal carotid artery: assessment using color Doppler imaging compared with angiography

The percentage of diameter stenosis of the internal carotid artery was estimated directly from color Doppler images obtained in both longitudinal and transverse planes and compared with the results of digital subtraction angiography in 49 patients (95 carotid arteries). Peak systolic velocity measurements were obtained by placing the sample volume in the highest-velocity flow stream with the angle-correction cursor parallel to the color-encoded lumen. Arterial stenoses were categorized on a grade 1-5 scale: 1 = 0-15%, 2 = 16-49%, 3 = 50-75%, 4 = 76-99%, and 5 = occlusion. Percent diameter stenosis could not be determined in 12 color Doppler flow imaging studies (13%) due to calcified plaque. Of the remaining 83 arteries evaluated by both techniques, the respective categories by color Doppler flow imaging/angiography were grade 1 (16/26), grade 2 (25/24), grade 3 (30/19), grade 4 (5/8), and grade 5 (7/6). Percent diameter stenosis determined by color Doppler flow imaging was greater than by angiography in 25% and less than by angiography in 4%. Peak systolic velocity measurements did not separate the hemodynamically insignificant (less than 50% diameter stenosis) grade 1 and grade 2 lesions, but were in agreement in 86% of grades 3-5 stenotic categories, as determined by measurements from the color Doppler flow image. A direct measurement of percent diameter stenosis from the color Doppler flow image was possible in 87% of cases. Peak systolic velocity provided correlative diagnostic information when assessing hemodynamically significant lesions.     

Contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography of the carotid artery: comparison with conventional digital subtraction angiography

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Since 1996, several preliminary studies have shown the usefulness of contrast material-enhanced MR angiography for imaging supraaortic vessels. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography with that of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the evaluation of carotid artery stenosis. METHODS: A blinded comparison of first-pass contrast-enhanced MR angiography with conventional DSA was performed in 120 patients (240 arteries). MR angiography was performed with a 1.5-T magnet with gradient overdrive equipment, by using a coronal radiofrequency-spoiled 3D fast low-angle-shot sequence after the intravenous injection of gadodiamide. The guidelines of the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial for measuring stenosis of the internal carotid artery were applied on maximum intensity projection (MIP) images and conventional catheter angiograms. RESULTS: Grading of stenoses on MR angiograms agreed with grading of stenoses on DSA images in 89% of arteries. In the severe stenosis group (70-99%), agreement was 93%. All internal carotid occlusions (n = 28) and seven of nine pseudo-occlusions were accurately detected with contrast-enhanced MR angiography. The correlation between MR angiography and DSA for determination of minimal, moderate, and severe stenoses and occlusion was statistically significant (r = 0.91, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: This investigation with a large number of patients confirms that contrast-enhanced MR angiography could become a diagnostic alternative to DSA in the treatment of patients with carotid artery disease.     

Physiologic and anatomic assessment of a canine carotid artery stenosis model utilizing phase contrast with vastly undersampled isotropic projection imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Noninvasive assessment of the hemodynamic significance of carotid stenosis is often performed with MR angiography and supplemented with carotid Doppler sonography. Phase contrast with vastly undersampled isotropic projection reconstruction (PC-VIPR), a novel MR imaging technique, accelerates phase-contrast MR flow imaging and provides both images of the vessels and measurements of blood-flow velocities. For this study, we determined the accuracy of PC-VIPR blood-flow velocity measurements to determine pressure gradients across an experimental carotid stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A focal stenosis was surgically created in each common carotid artery of 6 canines. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed, and the degree of stenosis was determined using the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial methodology. A microcatheter was positioned in the carotid artery proximal and distal to the stenosis, and pressures were measured in the vessel through the catheter. PC-VIPR was then performed on a 1.5T MR imaging scanner with parameters producing 0.8-mm isotropic voxel resolution. From the velocity measurements, pressure gradients were calculated from the Navier-Stokes relationship to compare with the pressures measured by a catheter. RESULTS: Carotid stenoses in the 50%-85% range were produced in the 12 arteries. Pressure gradients across the stenoses ranged from 6 to 26 mm Hg. The pressure gradient calculated from the PC-VIPR data correlated (r = 0.91, P < .0001) with the actual pressure measurements. CONCLUSION: With PC-VIPR, a novel MR imaging technique, the hemodynamic effect of a stenosis on flow and pressure can be evaluated.     

Poststenotic flow and intracranial hemodynamics in patients with carotid stenosis: transoral carotid ultrasonography study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In severe carotid stenosis, blood supply via the poststenotic internal carotid artery (ICA) and collateral pathways determine cerebral perfusion. We investigated whether poststenotic flow on transoral carotid ultrasonography (TOCU) is predictive of cerebral hemodynamics. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients with unilateral carotid stenosis underwent TOCU to analyze blood flow velocity and poststenotic diameter of the extracranial ICA. Intracranial collaterals and cerebral hemodynamics were assessed with selective angiography and single photon emission CT. RESULTS: Poststenotic diameter (P <.0001) and velocities (peak systolic velocity [PSV], time-averaged mean velocity [TMV], end-diastolic velocity [EDV]; all P < or = .009) decreased with stenotic severity. Poststenotic diameter was correlated with PSV (r=0.36, P=.0005), EDV (r=0.32, P=.002), and TMV (r=0.39, P=.0001). Poststenotic flow was significantly lower with collateral pathways than without pathways (P < or = .02) and significantly decreased as the number of the collaterals increased (P <.0001). Flow <5 mL/s indicated collaterals (81% sensitivity, 80% specificity). When flow was <5 mL/s, the asymmetry index in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory was significantly low during rest (P=.003) and after acetazolamide challenge (P=.006). Poststenotic flow velocity was associated with baseline (P=.007) and postacetazolamide (P=.0009) MCA asymmetry indexes. CONCLUSION: Poststenotic ICA flow measured with TOCU reflects collateral flow and cerebral hemodynamics in patients with severe carotid stenosis. This technique may provide new parameters for screening patients with hemodynamically significant carotid stenosis.     

Carotid stent delivery in an XMR suite: immediate assessment of the physiologic impact of extracranial revascularization

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients undergoing stent placement as treatment for severe stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) were assessed with MR imaging in a combined MR-radiographic (XMR) angiography suite. MR imaging was performed before and immediately following conventional radiography-guided stent placement. Changes in MR imaging measurable properties, including flow and perfusion, resulting from stent placement were evaluated. PATIENTS AND TECHNIQUES: MR imaging analysis was performed for 12 patients with >70% stenosis of the ICA before and after conventional radiography-guided deployment of a carotid stent. MR imaging acquisitions included angiography, quantitative flow analysis, perfusion, diffusion, and turbo-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). These acquisitions were all performed immediately before and following stent placement by using conventional techniques. RESULTS: MR angiography proved sufficient for identifying the target lesion and permitting targeted flow analysis. MR flow analysis demonstrated a marked increase in flow in the treated carotid artery (+2.2 +/- 1.2 mL/s) and little change in other extracranial arteries. MR perfusion imaging showed no significant differences in relative cerebral blood volume between hemispheres before or after treatment, but there was a modest decrease in mean transit time and time to peak evident in the treated hemisphere after stent placement. Diffusion imaging did not demonstrate any ischemic foci resulting from carotid stent treatment. Hyperintensity of the CSF was noted on turbo-FLAIR acquisitions in the ipsilateral hemisphere following stent placement in 75% of patients. CONCLUSION: MR imaging reliably reflects the state of the carotid artery and provides a means of monitoring and quantifying the effects of revascularization.     

Innominate artery occlusive disease: sonographic findings

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to report the sonographic abnormalities in a group of patients with angiographically proven innominate artery stenosis and occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of all cerebrovascular sonograms at our institutions was undertaken to identify patients with complete or partial flow reversal in the right vertebral artery and reversal or midsystolic deceleration of flow in any one of the three major segments of the right carotid system (common, internal, or external carotid artery). The distribution and appearance of these abnormalities was evaluated, and the presence or absence of tardus-parvus waveforms was noted in any segment of the right carotid artery. Additionally, a left to right common carotid peak systolic velocity ratio (LCCA/RCCA) was calculated and compared to published normal values. All patients had correlative contrast or MR angiography. Correlation was made between the severity of stenosis as determined by angiographic images and waveform aberrations as well as the more objective LCCA/RCCA ratios. RESULTS: Twelve patients were identified as having the abnormalities described above in the right vertebral and carotid arteries. Doppler waveforms from the right vertebral artery revealed that eight of the 12 patients had complete reversal of flow at rest. Bidirectional flow was found in the remaining four as manifested by the presence of marked midsystolic deceleration. In the carotid arteries, one patient had complete reversal of flow in all segments of the right carotid system. Waveforms with midsystolic deceleration were identified in at least one of the carotid arteries of the remaining 11 patients: common carotid artery (8/11 = 73%), internal carotid artery (10/11 = 91%), external carotid artery (3/11 = 27%). The average LCCA/RCCA was 3.1 with a range of 1.7 to 5.7 (normal = 0.7-1.3). All patients had severe innominate artery disease (from 70% to occlusion) by contrast angiography or MR angiography. There was no correlation between the angiographically determined degree of stenosis and the Doppler findings. CONCLUSION: A distinctive pattern of hemodynamic alterations occurs in the right vertebral and carotid arteries of patients with severe innominate artery disease. Findings include reversed or bidirectional flow in the right vertebral artery, the presence of midsystolic deceleration in any of the branches of the right carotid system, and elevated LCCA/RCCA ratio.     

Pulsatile flow artifacts in two-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography: Initial studies in elastic models of human carotid arteries

Initial experimental and numerical analysis of artifacts due to pulsatile flow in two-dimensional time-of-flight (2D-TOF) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography are presented. The experimental studies used elastic models of the carotid artery bifurcation cast from fresh cadavers and accurately reproducing the twisting and tapering of the human blood vessels, allowing direct comparison of images with and without flow. Prominent image artifacts, including periodic ghosts and signal loss, were produced by pulsatile flow even though flow-compensated gradient waveforms were used. The dependence of artifacts due to partial saturation on pulse sequence parameters (TR and flip angle) was investigated theoretically for a simple pulsatile velocity profile and compared with experimental results from a model of a normal carotid artery. Signal reduction was observed proximal and distal to the stenosis in a model with a 70% internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and a model with 90% stenoses in both the ICA and the external carotid artery. Although this study deals exclusively with 2D-TOF imaging, the methods can also be applied to evaluate other MR angiography techniques.     

Reappraisal of flow velocity ratio in common carotid artery to predict hemodynamic change in carotid stenosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Various Doppler criteria have been used to predict hemodynamically significant carotid stenosis. This study was performed to elucidate whether hemodynamically significant stenosis can be predicted indirectly by the blood flow velocity in the common carotid artery (CCA) measured with duplex ultrasonography in patients with unilateral stenosis of internal carotid artery (ICA). METHODS: Eighty-five patients who were scheduled to undergo carotid endarterectomy for unilateral stenosis of ICA origin were analyzed. The flow velocities and their side-to-side ratios in the CCA were calculated. The flow velocities in the CCA were measured with conventional ultrasonography and poststenotic blood flow with transoral carotid ultrasonography. Cerebral angiography was performed to evaluate the intracranial collateral flow. RESULTS: Among the absolute values and side-to-side ratios of Doppler flow velocities in the CCA, the end diastolic flow velocity (EDV) ratio in the CCA best correlated with the residual lumen area (r = 0.35; P = .0009), stenosis of diameter (r = 0.48; P < .0001), and poststenotic flow (r = 0.60; P < .0001). EDV ratios in the CCA were significantly lower in patients with collateral pathways (anterior communicating artery, P = .0005; posterior communicating artery, P = .004; ophthalmic artery, P < .0001; leptomeningeal collateral, P = .004). The optimal threshold value of the EDV ratio in the CCA for the presence of intracranial collateral flow and stenosis of diameter > or = 70% was 1.2. Those for tight stenosis in a cross-sectional area >95%, the reduction of poststenotic flow, and poststenotic narrowing were 1.4, 1.5, and 1.6, respectively. CONCLUSION: The EDV ratio in the CCA appears to be an additional parameter for predicting hemodynamically significant stenosis in patients with unilateral ICA stenosis.     

Contrast-enhanced carotid MR angiography with commercially available triggering mechanisms and elliptic centric phase encoding

OBJECTIVE. The technical feasibility of contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the carotid arteries was evaluated with routinely available timing sequences and elliptic centric acquisition. The image quality of the contrast-enhanced MR angiography was compared with that of multiple overlapping thin-section acquisition MR angiography (MOTSA MR angiography). SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Sixty-three patients were enrolled. A 2-mL test bolus and commercially available software were used to time the gadolinium bolus. High-resolution contrast-enhanced MR angiography was performed with elliptic centric acquisition. RESULTS. The average time of bolus arrival was 17.3 sec (range, 12-25 sec). In 60 of the 63 patients, we had excellent or good visualization of the carotid bifurcation using contrast-enhanced MR angiography with little or no venous contamination. Two observers ranked delineation of stenosis and morphology of proximal internal carotid artery and overall diagnostic confidence statistically significantly higher for contrast-enhanced MR angiography compared with MOTSA. Ulceration, length of stenosis, and slow flow distal to a critical stenosis were better depicted with contrast-enhanced MR angiography than with MOTSA. Venetian blind artifact, saturation of slow or in-plane flow, and artifactual narrowing in carotid artery kinks plagued MOTSA but were not seen on contrast-enhanced MR angiography. MOTSA was graded superior to contrast-enhanced MR angiography in nine of 120 carotid bifurcations analyzed. CONCLUSION. High-resolution carotid contrast-enhanced MR angiography is technically feasible. We found a 95% success rate using commercially available hardware and software. The image quality with carotid contrast-enhanced MR angiography has improved so that it is equal or superior to the longer MOTSA in most patients.