Cardiac abnormalities: assessment with T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR imaging with electrocardiogram gating at 0.5 T.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the cardiovascular system with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performed with the turbo spin-echo (TSE) method and electrocardiogram (ECG) gating.


METHODS
ECG-gated T2-weighted TSE images were obtained in 52 patients with 68 pathologic conditions (intracardiac [n = 18], myocardial [n = 23], pericardial [n = 6], paracardial [n = 10], or aortic [n = 11] disease) and 10 healthy subjects. In healthy subjects, TSE parameters were tested and optimized, and signal-to-noise ratios (S/Ns) and contrast-to-noise ratios (C/Ns) were determined. Delineation of the endo-, epi-, and pericardial borders and signal intensity characteristics of myocardium, fat, pericardium, blood flow, tumors, and clots were assessed.


RESULTS
The TSE method provided good-quality T2-weighted images with sharp edge definition in a short imaging time. Increasing the turbo factor reduced motion artifacts and preserved the S/N and C/N. TSE images also helped in diagnosis of tumors, pleural effusions, inflammatory changes, and intravascular clots.


CONCLUSIONS
TSE MR imaging is a feasible alternative to time-consuming conventional SE MR imaging, reduces motion artifact, and may help in evaluation of the cardiovascular system.
Seelos
K C
KC
Department of Radiology, University of Bonn, Germany.
von Smekal
A
A
Vahlensieck
M
M
Gieseke
J
J
Reiser
M
M
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001834:Body Water; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology