Free-breathing high-spatial-resolution delayed contrast-enhanced three-dimensional viability MR imaging of the myocardium at 3.0 T: a feasibility study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the feasibility of free-breathing high-spatial-resolution delayed contrast-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) viability magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3.0 T for the detection of myocardial damages.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients with myocardial diseases, including myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathies, were enrolled after informed consent was given. Free-breathing 3D viability MRI with high spatial resolution (1.5 x 1.25 x 2.5 mm) at 3.0 T, for which cardiac and navigator gating techniques were employed, was compared with breath-hold two-dimensional (2D) viability imaging (1.77 x 1.18 x 10 mm) for assessment of contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and myocardial damage.


RESULTS
Free-breathing 3D viability imaging was achieved successfully in 21 of the 25 patients. This imaging technique depicted 84.6% of hyperenhancing myocardium with a higher CNR between hyperenhancing myocardium and blood and with excellent agreement for the transmural extension of myocardial damage (k = 0.91). In particular, the 3D viability images delineated the myocardial infarction and linear hyperenhancing myocardium, comparable to the 2D viability images.


CONCLUSIONS
Free-breathing high-spatial-resolution delayed contrast-enhanced 3D viability MRI using 3.0 T was feasible for the evaluation of hyperenhancing myocardium, as seen with myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathies.
Amano
Yasuo
Y
Department of Radiology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. yas-amano@nifty.com
Matsumura
Yoshio
Y
Kumita
Shinichiro
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012119:Respiration
D003287:Contrast Media; C064925:gadodiamide; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA