Carotid Artery Angiography MRI

MR angiography of the carotid arteries evaluating the cervical vasculature for stenosis, atherosclerotic disease, and dissection. Non-invasive alternative to conventional angiography.

This MR angiography focuses on the extracranial carotid arteries, including the common, internal, and external carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries from their origins to the skull base. The examination can be performed with or without gadolinium contrast depending on the clinical indication. The primary indications are suspected carotid artery stenosis (often discovered via carotid duplex ultrasound), vertebrobasilar insufficiency symptoms, screening for arterial dissection after neck trauma, and assessment of known atherosclerotic disease. The radiologist reports on vessel calibre and degree of stenosis using standard criteria. At EUR 290 this represents a cost-effective non-invasive alternative to CT angiography for cervical vascular assessment, with the advantage of no radiation exposure and no iodinated contrast requirement.