FIESTA-ET: high-resolution cardiac imaging using echo-planar steady-state free precession.
This work describes a technique that combines multishot echo-planar imaging (EPI) with steady-state free precession (SSFP, also known as TrueFISP, FIESTA, and balanced FFE) for multislice, cine MR imaging of the heart. Unlike recently reported methods, the technique presented here (FIESTA-ET) is high-resolution and does not require offline reconstruction or postprocessing. It is therefore suitable for use on standard clinical scanners. FIESTA-ET was compared with conventional FIESTA imaging in 10 volunteers and quantitative analyses of myocardial signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and ventricular volumes were performed. While providing comparable image quality, FIESTA-ET required half the acquisition time per slice of conventional FIESTA. Because multiple slices could be imaged in a single breathhold, the entire heart could be scanned in less than 2 min. Although the FIESTA-ET images exhibited an unexpected increase (P < 0.0005) in myocardial SNR of 16% over FIESTA, the volumetric measurements showed excellent correlation.
Slavin
Glenn S
GS
General Electric Medical Systems, Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA. glenn.slavin@med.ge.com
Saranathan
Manojkumar
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology; D016276:Ventricular Function