T1 measurement using a short acquisition period for quantitative cardiac applications.
Myocardial signal intensity curves for myocardial perfusion studies may be made quantitative by the use of T1 measurements made after the first-pass of contrast agent. A short data acquisition method for T1 mapping is presented in which all data for each T1 map are acquired in a short breath hold, and the slice geometry and timing in the cardiac cycle exactly match that of the dynamic first-pass perfusion sequence. This allows accurate image registration of the T1 map with the first-pass series of images. The T1 method is based on varying the preparation-pulse delay time of a saturation recovery sequence, and in this implementation employs an ECG-triggered, single-shot, spoiled gradient echo technique with SENSE reconstruction. The method allows T1 estimates of three slices to be made in fifteen heartbeats. For a range of samples with T1 values equivalent to those found in the myocardium during the first-pass of contrast agent, T1 estimates were accurate to within 6%, and the variation between slices was 2% or less.
Higgins
David M
DM
Department of Medical Physics and Engineering, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom. dmh@medphysics.leeds.ac.uk
Ridgway
John P
JP
Radjenovic
Aleksandra
A
Sivananthan
U Mohan
UM
Smith
Michael A
MA
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004562:Electrocardiography; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000494:pharmacology; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D010477:Perfusion; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media; D005782:Gels; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA