Thoracic Aorta angiogram MRI Protocol

• Coronal SSFSE (HASTE) scout
•  Axial T1 FSE or double IR images
• 3D Gad-enhanced MRA

Additional Sequences

• Sag Obl T1 FSE(Sagittal Oblique "Candy Cane")
• Multiphase (Cine) Axial “bright blood“ GRE
• Axial “bright blood“ GRE
• Sometimes T2W FSE was included to assess the possibility of inflammation.

The thoracic aorta is generally examined using ECG-gated T1-weighted spin echo sequence, ECG-gate cine gradient echo sequences and contrast enhanced MR angiography . Occasionally T2-weighted SE is used in areas of aortic wall thickening to identify active inflammation.

Imaging protocols are rapidly evolving. In order to image the aorta in the recent past,

we commonly performed several sequences including axial and sagittal oblique T1

weighted fast spin echo (FSE), axial “bright blood“ GRE, and a gadolinium-enhanced

3D MRA. Currently we normally perform only two imaging sequences, an ECGtriggered

axial double inversion recovery and a gadolinium-enhanced 3D MRA.

Depending on the patient history and medical stability the protocol is tailored for

most examinations. In critically ill patients, who we do not wish to keep in the scanner

for a prolonged period of time, we perform a very limited exam, often including only a

3D Gad MRA. This will usually provide enough information in an exam that takes

only 5-10 minutes. While the 3D MRA studies are very rapid, they do not give

information about the aortic wall itself, therefore we also like to perform the axial

images to look for intramural dissections, wall thickening, and other extra vascular

--> pathology such as hematomas, masses, and adenopathy.