title: Optimization of blood-myocardial contrast in 3D true FISP cardiac imaging at 1.5 T.
abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) steady-state free precession (SSFP) MRI sequences are often applied to visualize both intra- and extracardiac pathologies. In the present study the contrast behavior of 3D true fast imaging with steady precession (True-FISP) sequences for cardiac imaging was optimized in numerical simulations and compared with measurements obtained in eight healthy volunteers on a 1.5 T whole-body scanner. Two SS preparation schemes in combination with and without a T(2) preparation were assessed to improve contrast between blood and myocardium using a navigator-gated and ECG-triggered 3D True-FISP sequence. Numerical simulations and experimental studies in volunteers showed that an SS preparation using a constant flip angle (CFA) is preferable to a linear flip angle (LFA) preparation in terms of contrast between blood and myocardium. The optimized 3D True-FISP sequence provides a reliable, accurate, and time-efficient means of obtaining a morphological cardiac diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Section on Experimental Radiology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. petros.martirosian@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martirosian
authors.forename: Gerald F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Greil
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fenchel
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greiser
authors.forename: Claus D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Claussen
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.forename: Ludger
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sieverding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male