title: Contrast enhanced IR-SSFP examination compared with T1-weighted turbo spin-echo imaging of cardiac tumors and tumorlike lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To show that the use of an early and delayed contrast enhanced multislice inversion recovery steady state free precession (SS-IR-SSFP) is a valuable substitute for conventional post-contrast fat saturated turbo spin-echo (TSE) T1-weighted images in the assessment of cardiac tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  34 consecutive patients referred for MRI in order to assess cardiac tumors were examined. Shortly after administration of gadopenetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) images were obtained using a SS-IR-SSFP sequence. The inversion time (TI) was set at 350ms to achieve a good demarcation of intracavitary tumor spread. Hereafter 9 slices of a T1w TSE sequence were obtained. Finally a SS-IR-SSFP sequence with an optimized TI to null normal myocardium was employed. Quantitative comparisons were performed by calculating contrast to noise ratios of tumor/myocardium (CNR(tumor/myo)) and CNR of tumor/left ventricular cavity (CNR(tumor/LVC)). Image quality was assessed regarding overall image quality, artifacts and tumor conspicuity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither calculation of CNR(tumor/LVC) when comparing the early IR-SSFP and T1w TSE, nor calculation of CNR(tumor/myo) when comparing the late IR-SSFP and T1w TSE sequence resulted in statistically significant differences. However, qualitative assessments revealed significant superior results for the early and the late IR-SSFP images compared to the T1-weighted TSE images (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Image quality and tumor conspicuity were superior and image degradation by artifacts was less on IR-SSFP images compared to TSE images without loss of CNR. Thus the use of IR-SSFP sequences is an attractive alternative imaging method compared to post-contrast T1w TSE imaging in the assessment of cardiac tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospitals - Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany. Kerstin.Bauner@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: K U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Bauner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sandner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Notohamiprodjo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmoeckel
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Reiser
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Huber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA