Enhanced 3D subtraction MR angiography of head and neck tumors

Contrast-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography (MRA) combined with a subtraction technique was performed in six patients with a solid tumors in the head or neck region. Using the subtraction technique, the contrast-to-noise ratio between the internal carotid artery and fat tissue increased from 18.2 +/- 7.4 to 64.7 +/- 30.8. The MRA findings demonstrated both arteries and enhancing tumors with effective background signal suppression, making tumor extension and relation to the arterial branches more evident. The proposed technique is promising for screening arterial abnormalities of the head and neck in patients with solid tumors.