4D Flow CMR Hands-On Course-4D Flow Course

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The transcript captures the first SCMR Hands-on 4D Flow CMR course, co-chaired by Michael Markl and Chris Francois. The day began with an overview of the agenda, followed by foundational talks on 4D flow principles, clinical applications, and practical workflow. Michael explained how phase contrast MRI encodes blood flow using bipolar gradients, reviewed key concepts such as velocity encoding (VENC), aliasing, and the progression from 2D phase contrast MRI to comprehensive 3D, time-resolved 4D flow imaging. Chris then covered analysis strategies, emphasizing visualization tools such as phase contrast angiograms, velocity MIPs, streamlines, pathlines, and vector displays, and discussed routine clinical quantification of flow, velocity, regurgitation, and shunts.<br /><br />The discussion highlighted practical issues including background phase correction, contrast use, alias correction, VENC selection, dual-VENC approaches, arrhythmia handling, pediatric imaging, reproducibility, and physiologic variability. The morning continued with vendor-specific scanning guidance from GE, Siemens, and Philips users, focusing on protocol setup, acceleration methods, scan planning, and how 4D flow can be integrated into routine clinical workflows across different scanner platforms.<br /><br />After breakout sessions with software vendors, the afternoon shifted to post-processing and advanced analysis. Chris reviewed advanced parameters such as flow distribution, intracardiac flow components, pressure gradients, pulse wave velocity, wall shear stress, kinetic energy, and energy loss. Michael concluded with future directions, including highly accelerated imaging, 5D flow, AI-driven automation, intravascular contrast, and scanner-integrated reconstruction workflows.<br /><br />Overall, the course emphasized that 4D flow CMR is a powerful, increasingly practical tool for congenital, valvular, and aortic disease, with strong potential for broader clinical adoption.

Keywords

4D flow CMR

SCMR Hands-on course

phase contrast MRI

blood flow imaging

velocity encoding

aliasing correction

clinical applications

flow visualization

streamlines

pathlines

background phase correction

vendor-specific protocols

post-processing analysis

wall shear stress

AI-driven automation