To understand the concepts of non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (NC-MRA) techniques using time-spatial labeling inversion pulse (Time-SLIP). To understand the directions for creation of 4D Time-SLIP images. To review pictorial examples of 4D Time-SLIP in renovascular lesions.

The association between gadolinium-based contrast agents and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis　(NSF) has helped propel non-contrast angiography techniques to center stage in the MR evaluation of vascular disease. From the viewpoints of preservation of renal function, clinicians tend to avoid using contrast medium also in the CT studies of patients with renal diseases for the pre-interventional evaluation. Our institute, Tokyo Women’s Medical University (TWMU) has a kidney center established in 1979 in which a great number of patients with renal diseases are treated by renal transplantation,...

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique In TWMU, more than 1,200 MR examinations in urological systems per year are performed. Our hospital has six MR scanners; of these, three MR scanners with 1.5 or 3 tesla-superconducting system are used to obtain Time-SLIP MRA images (Toshiba Medical Systems, Otawara, Japan) as follows: Vantage TitanTM 3T (Open Bore, 3 tesla), Vantage TitanTM 1.5T (Open Bore, 1.5 tesla) and EXCELART VantageTM powered by Atlas (1.5 tesla). Concepts of NC-MRA with Time-SLIP method Time-SLIP is the highest MR signal control...

Serial morphologic or hemodynamic changes in 4D Time-SLIP images help detect minute or complex renovascular lesions and a direction of the blood flow around complicated vascular lesions, and achieve effective acquisition of NC-MRA images. The additional role of NC-MRA as a pre-IR examination was also highlighted.

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Tsuyoshi Tajima, MD, PhD, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. e-mail: [email protected]