title: Whole heart magnetization-prepared steady-state free precession coronary vein MRI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare two coronary vein imaging techniques using whole-heart balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) and a targeted double-oblique spoiled gradient-echo (GRE) sequences in combination with magnetization transfer (MT) preparation sequence for tissue contrast improvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine healthy subjects were imaged with the proposed technique. The results are compared with optimized targeted MT prepared GRE acquisitions. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed to evaluate each imaging method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whole-heart images were successfully acquired with no visible image artifact in the vicinity of the coronary veins. The anatomical features and visual grading of both techniques were comparable. However, the targeted small slab acquisition of the left ventricular lateral wall was superior to whole-heart acquisition for visualization of relevant information for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) lead implantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated the feasibility of whole-heart coronary vein MRI using a 3D MT-SSFP imaging sequence. A targeted acquisition along the lateral left ventricular wall is preferred for visualization of branches commonly used in CRT lead implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Christian T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Stoeck
authors.forename: Yuchi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Dana C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Susan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Yeon
authors.forename: Kraig V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Kissinger
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goddu
authors.forename: Lois
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goepfert
authors.forename: Warren J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kozerke
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nezafat
mesh_terms: D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric