Comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0 Tesla: feasibility and implications for clinical applications.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine the applicability of high magnetic field strengths for comprehensive functional and structural cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
Eighteen subjects underwent comprehensive cardiac MRI at 1.5 T and 3.0 T. The following imaging techniques were implemented: double and triple inversion prepared FSE for anatomic imaging, 4 different sets of echocardiographic-gated CINE strategies for functional and flow imaging, inversion prepared gradient echo for delayed enhancement imaging, T1-weighted segmented EPI for perfusion imaging and 2-dimensional (2-D) spiral, and volumetric SSFP for coronary artery imaging.


RESULTS
: Use of 3 Tesla as opposed to 1.5 Tesla provided substantial baseline signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) improvements for anatomic (T1-weighted double IR: DeltaSNR = 29%, DeltaCNR = 20%, T2-weighted double IR: DeltaSNR = 39%, DeltaCNR = 33%, triple IR: DeltaSNR = 74%, DeltaCNR = 60%), functional (conventional CINE: DeltaSNR = 123%, DeltaCNR = 74%, accelerated CINE: DeltaSNR = 161%, DeltaCNR = 86%), myocardial tagging (DeltaSNRsystole = 54%, DeltaCNRsystole = 176%), phase contrast flow measurements (DeltaSNR = 79%), viability (DeltaSNR = 48%, DeltaCNR = 40%), perfusion (DeltaSNR = 109%, DeltaCNR = 87%), and breathhold coronary imaging (2-D spiral: DeltaSNRRCA = 54%, DeltaCNRRCA = 69%, 3-D SSFP: DeltaSNRRCA = 60%, DeltaCNRRCA = 126%), but also revealed image quality issues, which were successfully tackled by adiabatic radiofrequency pulses and parallel imaging.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiac MRI at 3.0 T is feasible for the comprehensive assessment of cardiac morphology and function, although SAR limitations and susceptibility effects remain a concern. The need for speed together with the SNR benefit at 3.0 T will motivate further advances in routine cardiac MRI while providing an image-quality advantage over imaging at 1.5 Tesla.
Gutberlet
Matthias
M
Charité, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Klinik für Strahlenheilkunde, Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Berlin, Germany. matthias.gutberlet@charite.de
Noeske
Ralph
R
Schwinge
Kerstin
K
Freyhardt
Patrick
P
Felix
Roland
R
Niendorf
Thoralf
T
D000328:Adult; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male