title: Three-dimensional balanced steady state free precession myocardial perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance at 3T using dual-source parallel RF transmission: initial experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to establish the feasibility of three-dimensional (3D) balanced steady-state-free-precession (bSSFP) myocardial perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) at 3T using local RF shimming with dual-source RF transmission, and to compare it with spoiled gradient echo (TGRE) acquisition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dynamic contrast-enhanced 3D bSSFP perfusion imaging was performed on a 3T MRI scanner equipped with dual-source RF transmission technology. Images were reconstructed using k-space and time broad-use linear acquisition speed-up technique (k-t BLAST) and compartment based principle component analysis (k-t PCA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In phantoms and volunteers, local RF shimming with dual source RF transmission significantly improved B1 field homogeneity compared with single source transmission (P=0.01). 3D bSSFP showed improved signal-to-noise, contrast-to-noise and signal homogeneity compared with 3D TGRE (29.8 vs 26.9, P=0.045; 23.2 vs 21.6, P=0.049; 14.9% vs 12.4%, p=0.002, respectively). Image quality was similar between bSSFP and TGRE but there were more dark rim artefacts with bSSFP. k-t PCA reconstruction reduced artefacts for both sequences compared with k-t BLAST. In a subset of five patients, both methods correctly identified those with coronary artery disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three-dimensional bSSFP myocardial perfusion CMR using local RF shimming with dual source parallel RF transmission at 3T is feasible and improves signal characteristics compared with TGRE. Image artefact remains an important limitation of bSSFP imaging at 3T but can be reduced with k-t PCA.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jogiya
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: Arshad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motwani
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kouwenhoven
authors.forename: Eike
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nagel
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kozerke
authors.affiliation: King's College London BHF Centre of Excellence, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and Welcome Trust and EPSRC Medical Engineering Centre at Guy's and St, Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Division of Imaging Sciences, The Rayne Institute, London SE1 7EH, UK. s.plein@leeds.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Plein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult