Intermediate
Technical
IVT
black-blood imaging
MRI technique that suppresses blood signal to enhance visualization of vessel walls and cardiac structures.
Full Definition
Black-blood imaging employs specialized pulse sequences to eliminate signal from flowing blood, making it appear dark (black) while maintaining signal from stationary tissues. In cardiovascular imaging, this technique is valuable for assessing vessel wall thickness, detecting atherosclerotic plaque, evaluating cardiac masses, and characterizing myocardial tissue. Common implementations include double inversion recovery and motion-sensitized driven equilibrium sequences.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as adjective (black-blood sequence).
In Context
- "Black-blood T2-weighted images revealed high signal in the myocardium consistent with edema." — Cardiac MRI inflammation assessment
- "The black-blood sequence demonstrated circumferential vessel wall thickening." — Vascular imaging report
Also known as
flow-suppressed imaging
blood-suppressed imaging
Contrasted with
bright-blood imaging
white-blood imaging
Don't confuse with
time-of-flight
phase contrast