Four-dimensional single breathhold magnetic resonance imaging using kt-BLAST enables reliable assessment of left- and right-ventricular volumes and mass.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively determine the accuracy of four-dimensional (4D) kt-broad-use linear acquisition speed-up technique (BLAST) accelerated MRI (kt-BLAST) for the assessment of left-ventricular (LV) volumes and mass as well as right-ventricular (RV) volumes in comparison to standard multiple breathhold cine imaging.


METHODS
A total of 40 patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent cardiac MRI. In each patient a standard multislice cine steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequence was performed with complete ventricular coverage during multiple breathholds. Additionally, a kt-BLAST-accelerated 4D sequence with complete ventricular coverage was acquired during one single breathhold. For comparison of SSFP and kt-BLAST, the following LV parameters were determined: end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, ejection fraction, end-diastolic diameter and mass. For comparison of RV dimensions, end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes and ejection fraction were assessed.


RESULTS
LV volumes, ejection fraction, diameter, and mass showed a strong correlation between SSFP and kt-BLAST (r=0.98-0.99; P<0.01). In addition, RV parameters demonstrated a high correlation (r=0.97-0.98; P<0.01). For all parameters, the calculated bias between both methods was found to be minimal (0.4-4%).


CONCLUSIONS
4D kt-BLAST-accelerated MRI enabled the accurate assessment of LV and RV quantitative parameters during one single breathhold when compared to standard multislice, multiple breathhold SSFP imaging.
Jahnke
Cosima
C
Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, German Heart Institute Berlin, Berlin, Germany. jahnke@dhzb.de
Nagel
Eike
E
Gebker
Rolf
R
Bornstedt
Axel
A
Schnackenburg
Bernhard
B
Kozerke
Sebastian
S
Fleck
Eckart
E
Paetsch
Ingo
I
D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012119:Respiration; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016276:Ventricular Function; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left