Magnetic resonance angiography.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To outline the physical principles of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), major current MRA techniques, clinical indications and some of the limitations of MRA. The rapidly changing nature of MRA techniques is stressed. DATA SOURCES AND DATA EXTRACTION: The MRA literature for the last eight years is reviewed with particular attention to the changing clinical role of MRA. Details of specific MRA techniques are omitted for simplicity and because of their lack of direct relevance to the clinicians requesting MRA examinations. Data concerning the clinical role of MRA techniques are extracted from the literature and combined with our own clinical experience. DATA SYNTHESIS: While stressing the rapidly changing nature of this new investigational technique, we find that MRA has a number of current roles in patient management. CONCLUSIONS: MRA is currently a useful investigation and will in all likelihood become more useful in the future as the technique improves further and becomes more available.