(I MRA) In MR imaging, inflowing non-saturated fluid gives a higher signal intensity than stationary tissue. This effect makes it especially useful for imaging of flowing blood. Other factors such as susceptibility and spin saturation, can affect the signal of the blood within the vessels. Furthermore turbulence is part of normal blood flow and can decrease signal intensity.

See also Time of Flight Angiography.

(USPIO) The class of the ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide includes several chemically and pharmacologically very distinct materials, which may or may not be interchangeable for a specific use. Some ultrasmall SPIO particles (median diameter less than 50nm) are used as MRI contrast agents (Sinerem®, Combidex®), e.g. to differentiate metastatic from inflammatory lymph nodes. USPIO shows also potential for providing important information about angiogenesis in cancer tumors and could possibly complement MRI helping physicians to identify dangerous arteriosclerosis plaques.
Because of the disadvantageous large T2*//T1 ratio, USPIO compounds are less suitable for arterial bolus contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography than gadolinium complexes. The tiny ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxides do not accumulate in the RES system as fast as larger particles, which results in a long plasma half-life. USPIO particles, with a small median diameter (less than 10 nm), will accumulate in lymph nodes after an intravenous injection by e.g. direct transcapillary passage through endothelial venules. Once within the nodal parenchyma, phagocytic cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system take up the particles.
As a second way, USPIOs are subsequently taken up from then interstitium by lymphatic vessels and transported to regional lymph nodes. A lymph node with normal phagocytic function takes up a considerable amount and shows a reduction of the signal intensity caused by T2 shortening effects and magnetic susceptibility. Caused by the small uptake of the USPIOs in metastatic lymph nodes, they appear with less signal reduction, and permit the differentiation of healthy lymph nodes from normal-sized, metastatic nodes.

See also Superparamagnetic Contrast Agents, Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide, Very Small Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Particles, Blood Pool Agents, Intracellular Contrast Agents.

Form of NMR spectroscopy in which an additional dimension is added to the conventional chemical shift dimension by allowing varying amounts of different interactions between spin systems (such as Nuclear Overhauser Effect, spin spin coupling or exchange).

With an open configuration MRI system neurosurgical procedures can be performed using image guidance. Open MRI can be used to guide interventional treatments or procedures, such as a biopsy.
Intraoperative MRI allows lesions to be precisely localized and targeted. Constantly updated images, correlated with images obtained pre-operatively, help to eliminate errors that can arise during framed and frameless stereotactic surgery when anatomic structures alter their position due to shifting or displacement of, e.g. brain parenchyma.
Intraoperative MRI can help with the identification of normal structures, such as blood vessels and is helpful in optimizing surgical approaches, achieving complete resection of intracerebral lesions, determining tumor margins and monitoring potential intraoperative complications.

For a contrast enhanced MR angiography of the peripheral blood vessels, the patient reclines on a moveable table that moves under the MR machine to provide images of the abdomen, upper and lower legs in one procedure. A time optimized 3D gradient echo protocol with contrast agent and tabletop movement in several stages is used.