Five-dimensional MRI incorporating simultaneous resolution of cardiac and respiratory phases for volumetric imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a new volumetric imaging method resolved over both the cardiac and respiratory cycles, to enable future physiological and pathophysiological studies of respiratory-related cardiac motion.


METHODS
An acquisition scheme is proposed whereby the k-space acquisition order is controlled in real-time by the current cardiac and respiratory phases. To reduce eddy-current effects induced by sudden jumps in k-space, the acquisition order is further optimized by the use of a Hilbert curve trajectory in the k(y)-k(z) plane. A complete three-dimensional (3D) k-space is acquired for all combinations of cardiac and respiratory phases, yielding a five-dimensional (5D) data set after retrospective reconstruction.


RESULTS
Left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) wall excursion was measured in a healthy volunteer. Diastolic LV diameter was shown to increase during expiration and decrease during inspiration, as expected from previous echocardiography studies. The LV volume was estimated for all cardiac and respiratory phases with the use of a fully 3D segmentation tool. The results confirmed that the diastolic LV volume increased during expiration and decreased during inspiration.


CONCLUSIONS
With its ability to measure motion anywhere in the heart, the described technique provides a promising approach for in-depth description of interventricular coupling, including 3D ventricular volumes, during both the cardiac and respiratory cycles.
Sigfridsson
Andreas
A
Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Medicine and Care, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. andreas.sigfridsson@imv.liu.se
Kvitting
John-Peder Escobar
JP
Knutsson
Hans
H
Wigström
Lars
L
D002306:Cardiac Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*