Aortic Aneurysm and Pseudoaneurysm Assessment

Although contrast angiography is still considered the “gold standard” for evaluation of the aorta and its major branches, Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) has quickly gained popularity as an imaging tool for the assessment of the entire aorta. MRA serves as an alternative imaging modality that can be utilized in patients with impaired renal function and with allergies to iodinated contrast medium (iodinated contrast medium is required in contrast angiography and computed tomography, CT). The purpose of this unit is to present fundamental MRA techniques useful in the evaluation of the thoracic and abdominal aorta based on experience on a 1.5 T GE LX scanner.