Q: What is FBI?

A: FBI stands for Fresh Blood Imaging. Fresh blood without contrast medium is visualized by MRI.

FBI is a special angiographic technique that eliminates the use of contrast medium. In conventional MRA, it is difficult to obtain clear views of small vessels in the extremities. With the use of FBI, images of the arteries or veins without the administration of contrast provide valuable clinical information.

Example of arteriosclerosis obliterans of the femur.

Conventional MRA with contrast medium*	FBI arterial image	FBI venous image
* MRA (MR angiography) = MRI of the blood vessels	The lesion is clearly observed in the arterial image.

Q: How can we visualize blood vessels without using contrast medium?

A: FBI is a highly advanced technique that is able to directly detect the MR signal in flowing blood.

Blood itself produces an MR signal, but due to being constantly moving, it has been difficult to clearly depict it. FBI can capture moving blood-flow signal very quickly, similar to the way that fast shutter speeds on a picture camera can freeze rapid motion. This captured signal shows white in a 2D cross-sectional image. The left image below is an original FBI image showing enhanced blood vessels. The image on the right is a 3D visualization of blood flow. The 3D FBI image is obtained by superimposing the original 2D images and applying three-dimensional processing.

Base image for FBI		FBI image
	Cross-sectional images with enhanced blood flow are acquired. The scanning procedure is the same as in conventional MRI exams.		By applying 3D processing, the entire vascularization can be obtained. The vessels can be observed in detail from different directions.

Q: What diseases can be effectively examined with FBI?

A: FBI is particularly useful for diagnosing vascular disease of the limbs.

Arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower extremities	Arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower extremities	FBI of varices in the Lower Extremities
Left: FBI Right: X-ray angiography FBI provides information comparable to X-ray angiography.	Left: FBI Right: Multislice CT FBI provides information comparable to 16-rowmultislice CT.	The varix is clearly depicted.

Q: What kind of examination is it?

A: Exactly the same as a standard MRI examination. All the patient needs to do is lie on the system couch.

	There are no concerns about exposure to ionizing radiation. Examination can be repeated as many times as needed, without safety concerns. No injection of contrast medium is required.
	MRI examinations are contraindicated for patients with a cardiac pacemaker. Patients who have ferromagnetic materials inside their body should consult with their physician before undergoing an MRI examination. Before the examination, the patient must remove all ferromagnetic materials.