Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Practice Test

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What is the main purpose of the phase-contrast (PC) MRA technique?

  1. Suppression of the background tissue signal

  2. Enhancement of fat suppression

  3. Measurement of blood flow velocity

  4. Reduction of susceptibility artifact

The correct answer is: Measurement of blood flow velocity

The phase-contrast (PC) MRA technique is primarily utilized for the measurement of blood flow velocity. This technique takes advantage of the phase shifts that occur in the magnetic resonance signal of flowing blood relative to the stationary tissues. By assessing these phase changes, it is possible to quantify the speed and direction of blood flow within vessels. The ability to measure blood flow velocity is crucial in various clinical scenarios, such as evaluating arterial stenosis, assessing conditions like atherosclerosis, or studying hemodynamics in different vascular diseases. By providing dynamic information about blood flow, phase-contrast MRA aids in diagnosis and therapeutic planning. The other options, while they describe elements present in MRI technology, do not primarily reflect the main purpose of the PC MRA technique. For example, background tissue signal suppression and fat suppression are more related to techniques that enhance image clarity by reducing noise, while reducing susceptibility artifacts pertains to minimizing distortions that occur due to magnetic field inhomogeneities, none of which are the focus of phase-contrast imaging.