Multislice first-pass cardiac perfusion MRI: validation in a model of myocardial infarction.
The purpose of this study was to validate a first-pass MRI method for imaging myocardial perfusion with multislice coverage and relatively small analyzable regions of interest (ROIs). A fast gradient-echo (FGRE) sequence with an echo-train (ET) readout was used to achieve multislice coverage, and a high dose of a contrast agent (CA) was used to achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Dogs (N = 6) were studied 1 day after reperfused myocardial infarction, and fluorescent microspheres were used as a standard for perfusion. First-pass MRI correlated well vs. microsphere flow, achieving mean R values of 0.87 (range = 0.82-0.93), 0.71 (range = 0.46-0.85), and 0.72 (range = 0.49-0.95) for subendocardial ROIs, transmural ROIs, and the endocardial-epicardial ratio, respectively. Additionally, analysis of myocardial time-intensity curves (TICs) indicated that 15.8 +/- 6 sectors, corresponding to 260 microl of endocardium, can be analyzed (R(2) > 0.95).
Epstein
Frederick H
FH
Laboratory of Cardiac Energetics, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. fhe6b@virginia.edu
London
James F
JF
Peters
Dana C
DC
Goncalves
Lino M
LM
Agyeman
Kwabena
K
Taylor
Joni
J
Balaban
Robert S
RS
Arai
Andrew E
AE
D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003287:Contrast Media; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D004285:Dogs; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D008863:Microspheres; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA