A method that determines the information necessary to reconstruct a single vascular image from a time-resolved CE-MRA exam is presented. Raw k-space data are used to approximate the time course of the contrast passage prior to image reconstruction. The resulting k-space contrast curve is used to select the data corresponding to peak arterial enhancement. These data are reconstructed and immediately presented for physician review, with the entire time-series of images available at a later time for more detailed diagnosis. This approach dramatically reduces the latency between acquisition of large 4D (3D plus time) data sets and presentation of a diagnostic quality time frame. This algorithm has proven successful in the imaging of several anatomical regions and-in exams that do not require a breath hold-permits the use of an acquisition method that produces a contrast-enhanced angiogram without a timing scan.