Three-dimensional multicontrast blood imaging with a single acquisition: Simultaneous non-contrast-enhanced MRA and vessel wall imaging in the thoracic aorta.

Purpose: To evaluate MRA and vessel wall imaging (VWI) image quality in the thoracic aorta using a novel method named BRIDGE (bright and dark blood images with multishot gradient-echo EPI).

Methods: The BRIDGE method consists of 3D multishot gradient-echo EPI acquisition using pulse gating, navigator gating, and magnetization preparation with a T -preparation pulse and a nonselective inversion-recovery pulse. The BRIDGE and conventional methods (noncontrast MRA based on 3D turbo-field-echo [TFE] and VWI based on 3D turbo spin echo with variable refocusing flip angle [VRFA-TSE]) were performed in 10 healthy volunteers and 10 patients.