Comparison of three accelerated pulse sequences for semiquantitative myocardial perfusion imaging using sensitivity encoding incorporating temporal filtering (TSENSE).
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the parallel acquisition technique sensitivity encoding incorporating temporal filtering (TSENSE) with three saturation-recovery (SR) prepared pulse sequences (SR turbo fast low-angle shot [SR-TurboFLASH], SR true fast imaging with steady precession [SR-TrueFISP], and SR-prepared segmented echo-planar-imaging [SR-segEPI]) for semiquantitative first-pass myocardial perfusion imaging.


METHODS
In blood- and tissue-equivalent phantoms the relationship between signal intensity (SI) and contrast-medium concentration was evaluated for the three pulse sequences. In volunteers, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and normalized upslopes (NUS) were calculated from signal-time curves (STC). Moreover, artifacts, image noise, and overall image quality were qualitatively evaluated.


RESULTS
Phantom data showed a 40% increased linear range of the relation between SI and contrast-medium concentration with TSENSE. In volunteers, TSENSE introduced significantly residual artifacts and loss in SNR and CNR. No differences were found for NUS values with TSENSE. SR-TrueFISP yielded highest SNR, CNR, and quality scores. However, in SR-True-FISP images, dark-banding artifacts were most pronounced. NUS values obtained with SR-TrueFISP were significantly higher and with SR-segEPI significantly lower than with SR-TurboFLASH.


CONCLUSIONS
Semiquantitative myocardial perfusion imaging can significantly benefit from TSENSE due to shorter acquisition times and increased linearity of the pulse sequences. Among the three pulse sequences tested, SR-TrueFISP yielded best image quality. SR-segEPI proved to be an interesting alternative due to shorter acquisition times, higher linearity and fewer dark-banding artifacts.
Section of Medical Physics, Department of Radiology, Mainz University Medical School, Mainz, Germany. stefanw@uni-mainz.de
Stefan
S
Weber
Andrea
A
Kronfeld
R Peter
RP
Kunz
Martin
M
Fiebich
Georg
G
Horstick
Karl-Friedrich
KF
Kreitner
Wolfgang G
WG
Schreiber
D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D010477:Perfusion; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media