Synopsis

MR angiography (MRA) provides a radiation-free approach for evaluating the abdominal vessels. Time-resolved contrast-enhanced MRA shows flow patterns that are not well assessed by CTA. In patients with impaired renal function, ferumoxytol can be used as an off-label contrast agent with the benefit of a prolonged intravascular half-life and excellent delineation of the venous system. Non-contrast MRA techniques avoid the need for a gadolinium-based contrast agent, while dark blood imaging techniques can be used to evaluate the vessel wall. In this presentation, we will consider contrast-enhanced and non-contrast MRA techniques, and present various clinical examples of MRA in the abdomen.