title: Cardiac T2* and lipid measurement at 3.0 T-initial experience.
abstract: This study was designed to assess whether breath-hold cardiac multiecho imaging at 3.0 T is achievable without significant image artefacts and if fat/water phase interference modulates the exponential T2* signal decay. Twelve healthy volunteers (mean age 39) were imaged on a Philips Intera 3.0 T MRI scanner. Multiecho imaging was performed with a breath-hold spoiled gradient echo sequence with a seven echo readout (echo times 1.15-8.05 ms, repetition time 11 ms) using a black-blood prepulse and volume shimming. T2* values were calculated with both mono- and biexpoential fits from the mean signal intensity of the interventricular septum. The global mean T2* was 27.3 ms +/- 6.4. The mean signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the septum was 22.8 +/- 9.9, and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the septum to the left ventricular cavity 20.3 +/- 9.4. A better fit was obtained with a biexponential model and the mean fat fraction derived was 3.7%. Cardiac functional parameters were in the normal range and showed no correlation with T2*. Cardiac T2* estimation with gradient multiecho imaging at 3.0 T can be achieved with minimal artefact and modelling the signal decay with a biexponential function allows estimation of myocardial lipid content as well as T2* decay.
authors.affiliation: Imaging Sciences Department, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, W12 0NN, UK. declan.oregan@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Declan P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: O'Regan
authors.forename: Martina F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Callaghan
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: Rossi P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Naoumova
authors.forename: Joseph V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Hajnal
authors.forename: Stephan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Schmitz
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects