Comparison of T1 estimation techniques in cardiac MRI.
We have shown that the use of a simple combination of inversion recovery/spin-echo (IR/SE) sequences provides undeniably superior precision in quantitative in vivo myocardium T1 estimation than the standard multiple spin-echo approach. On a group of 25 healthy subjects, the T1 dispersion was, respectively, 3.8% for the IR/SE combination and 19.6% for the best SE pair combination. Moreover, repeated measurements were carried out on seven of the volunteers in order to assess T1 reproducibility. The mean intra-individual T1 precision was found to be 2.8% for the IR/SE pair and 20.0% for the best SE pair. The in vivo imaging work was supported and corroborated by a thorough treatment of the theoretical T1 errors. We also highlight the importance of quality control in quantitative MRI; a correction being required in the SE sequences to bring measured signal intensities into line with those predicted from simple theory.
Walker
P M
PM
Laboratoire de Biophysique, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France.
Marie
P Y
PY
Danchin
N
N
Bertrand
A
A
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male