3.0 T cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients treated with coronary stenting for myocardial infarction: evaluation of short term safety and image quality.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate safety and image quality of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) at 3.0 T in patients with coronary stents after myocardial infarction (MI), in comparison to the clinical standard at 1.5 T.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients (21 men; 55 +/- 9 years) with first MI treated with primary stenting, underwent 18 scans at 3.0 T and 18 scans at 1.5 T. Twenty-four scans were performed 4 +/- 2 days and 12 scans 125 +/- 23 days after MI. Cine (steady-state free precession) and late gadolinium-enhanced (LGE, segmented inversion-recovery gradient echo) images were acquired. Patient safety and image artifacts were evaluated, and in 16 patients stent position was assessed during repeat catheterization. Additionally, image quality was scored from 1 (poor quality) to 4 (excellent quality).


RESULTS
There were no clinical events within 30 days of CMR at 3.0 T or 1.5 T, and no stent migration occurred. At 3.0 T, image quality of cine studies was clinically useful in all, but not sufficient for quantitative analysis in 44% of the scans, due to stent (6/18 scans), flow (7/18 scans) and/or dark band artifacts (8/18 scans). Image quality of LGE images at 3.0 T was not sufficient for quantitative analysis in 53%, and not clinically useful in 12%. At 1.5 T, all cine and LGE images were quantitatively analyzable.


CONCLUSIONS
3.0 T is safe in the acute and chronic phase after MI treated with primary stenting. Although cine imaging at 3.0 T is suitable for clinical use, quantitative analysis and LGE imaging is less reliable than at 1.5 T. Further optimization of pulse sequences at 3.0 T is essential.
Nijveldt
Robin
R
Department of Cardiology, VU University Medical Center, Room 5F003 De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands. R.Nijveldt@vumc.nl
Hirsch
Alexander
A
Hofman
Mark B M
MB
Beek
Aernout M
AM
Spijkerboer
Anje M
AM
Piek
Jan J
JJ
van Rossum
Albert C
AC
D016477:Artifacts; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome