Fast interactive real-time magnetic resonance imaging of cardiac masses using spiral gradient echo and radial steady-state free precession sequences.
OBJECTIVE
Cardiac and respiratory controlled MR-imaging is the gold standard for imaging of cardiac masses. However, this technique may be limited in patients with dyspnoe or arrhythmia. The aim of this study was the evaluation of an interactive MR-approach for the detection and localization of cardiac masses.


METHODS
Interactive real-time spiral gradient-echo (spiralGE) and radial steady-state-free-precession (radialSSFP) MR-imaging was performed during free-breathing and without cardiac triggering in 15 patients with 14 intracardiac or paracardiac masses. Standard cardiac triggered segmented k-space breath-hold steady-state-free-precession cine MR-imaging was used as the reference MR-imaging technique. Two groups of investigators blinded to clinical data were ask to rank image quality and to identify cardiac masses on real-time MR-images.


RESULTS
Image quality was superior using radialSSFP when compared with spiralGE. Using radialSSFP all masses were correctly detected while 6 of 14 masses were missed on spiralGE. Mean real-time MR-imaging time was less than 3 minutes for both techniques.


CONCLUSIONS
Interactive real-time radialSSFP MR-imaging allows for accurate and fast detection of cardiac masses without the need of cardiac or respiratory triggering.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. spuenti@rad.rwth-aachen.de
Elmar
E
Spuentrup
Andreas H
AH
Mahnken
Harald P
HP
Kühl
Gabriele A
GA
Krombach
Rene M
RM
Botnar
Alexander
A
Wall
Tobias
T
Schaeffter
Rolf W
RW
Günther
Arno
A
Buecker
D005260:Female; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged