title: [Cardiac MRI with SENSE technology: study of ventricular and valvular functionality in 30 patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The latest innovation in MR imaging is SENSE (SENSitivity Encoding), a technology providing an important solution for the time necessary for signal encoding. In the SENSitivity Encoding (SENSE) approach, an array of multiple, simultaneously operated receiver coils is used for signal acquisition. In particular, the efficacy of SENSE technology is able to reduce the number of phase encodings by a factor (named R factor or Reduction factor) and to evaluate the same k space with fewer readout lines obtaining higher spatial and temporal resolution.
  
  
  METHODS
  An heterogeneous group of 30 patients with a variety of clinically proven diagnoses underwent Cardiac MR with SENSE technology to evaluate the technique's diagnostic efficacy. The sequences used were "Balanced" Ultrafast Gradient Echo (B-FFE) characterised by a hyper-intense blood signal with multislice multiphase and single slice multiphase acquisitions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In addition to reducing scan times, SENSE technology improved spatial and temporal resolution (40 frames/cardiac cycle) providing optimal dynamic evaluation of valve structures and wall kinesis. Furthermore, the use of the SENSE technique with B-FFE sequences (sB-FFE) enabled the qualitative evaluation of abnormal blood movements and transvalvular flows.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The considerable time savings allowed by SENSE technology and the clear improvement in image quality constitute a step forward in cardiac MR imaging. The possibility of executing morphologic, dynamic, perfusional and spectroscopic studies in the same MR examination session with short acquisition times and good image quality are becoming more feasible.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini e Radiologia Interventistica.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sodani
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sciuto
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Roma
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Novelli
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Squillaci
authors.forename: Giovanni B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Forleo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Orazio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schillaci
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simonetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003971:Diastole; D004437:Ebstein Anomaly / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008476:Mediastinal Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013599:Systole; D016276:Ventricular Function