Evaluation of sodium T1 relaxation times in human heart.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the sodium longitudinal relaxation (T(1)) characteristics for myocardium and blood in humans.


METHODS
Eleven healthy volunteers were examined by using a (23)Na heart surface coil at a 1.5 T clinical scanner equipped with a broadband spectroscopy option. (23)Na MR measurements were performed by using a three-dimensional spoiled gradient echo sequence (in-plane resolution, 3.5 mm x 7 mm; slice thickness, 24 mm; TE, 3.1 msec; bandwidth, 65 Hz/pixel; TR, 21 to 150 msec).


RESULTS
Longitudinal T(1) relaxation time components were 31.6+/-7.0 msec and 31.1+/-7.5 msec for myocardium and blood, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
(23)Na T(1) relaxation times of myocardium and blood can be determined in humans. The results are in agreement with values obtained from animal studies.
Pabst
Thomas
T
Institut für Röntgendiagnostik, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. pabst@roentgen.uni-wuerzburg.de
Sandstede
Joern
J
Beer
Meinrad
M
Kenn
Werner
W
Neubauer
Stefan
S
Hahn
Dietbert
D
D000328:Adult; D001769:Blood; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012975:Sodium Isotopes; D013997:Time Factors
D012975:Sodium Isotopes; D012964:Sodium