How is bright blood MRI accomplished, and why is it used?
As its name implies, bright blood imaging is an MRI technique whereby flowing blood has high signal intensity compared with tissue. This technique is accomplished through the use of gradient echo MR imaging. Bright blood imaging techniques are useful because they are fast and have high spatial resolution; they are commonly used for depicting blood vessels, cardiac chambers, and valve leaflets. Turbulent blood flow causes dark “jets” in bright blood images, allowing the detection of valvular stenosis or incompetence.
