Approaches to diagnostic magnetic resonance carotid angiography.

MR angiography (MRA) by the time-of-flight technique has been very successful in the carotid arteries as a result of relatively rapid flow velocities and the availability of high sensitivity neck coils. Two-dimensional or three-dimensional acquisition through the carotid bifurcation is an effective screening technique whose accuracy is very competitive with Doppler ultrasound and whose anatomic detail rivals that of conventional contrast angiography. As methods are perfected for visualizing the entire carotid from the aortic arch to the circle of Willis, MRA will replace contrast angiography for many diagnostic applications.