title: Real-time SPARSE-SENSE cardiac cine MR imaging: optimization of image reconstruction and sequence validation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Improved real-time cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) sequences have currently been introduced, but so far only limited practical experience exists. This study aimed at image reconstruction optimization and clinical validation of a new highly accelerated real-time cine SPARSE-SENSE sequence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Left ventricular (LV) short-axis stacks of a real-time free-breathing SPARSE-SENSE sequence with high spatiotemporal resolution and of a standard segmented cine SSFP sequence were acquired at 1.5 T in 11 volunteers and 15 patients. To determine the optimal iterations, all volunteers' SPARSE-SENSE images were reconstructed using 10-200 iterations, and contrast ratios, image entropies, and reconstruction times were assessed. Subsequently, the patients' SPARSE-SENSE images were reconstructed with the clinically optimal iterations. LV volumetric values were evaluated and compared between both sequences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sufficient image quality and acceptable reconstruction times were achieved when using 80 iterations. Bland-Altman plots and Passing-Bablok regression showed good agreement for all volumetric parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  80 iterations are recommended for iterative SPARSE-SENSE image reconstruction in clinical routine. Real-time cine SPARSE-SENSE yielded comparable volumetric results as the current standard SSFP sequence. Due to its intrinsic low image acquisition times, real-time cine SPARSE-SENSE imaging with iterative image reconstruction seems to be an attractive alternative for LV function analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • A highly accelerated real-time CMR sequence using SPARSE-SENSE was evaluated. • SPARSE-SENSE allows free breathing in real-time cardiac cine imaging. • For clinically optimal SPARSE-SENSE image reconstruction, 80 iterations are recommended. • Real-time SPARSE-SENSE imaging yielded comparable volumetric results as the reference SSFP sequence. • The fast SPARSE-SENSE sequence is an attractive alternative to standard SSFP sequences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany. juliane.goebel@uk-essen.de.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goebel
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nensa
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Haemi P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Schemuth
authors.affiliation: Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maderwald
authors.affiliation: Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.|High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gratz
authors.affiliation: Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.|High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Quick
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schlosser
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nassenstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009929:Organ Size; D012119:Respiration; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Iterative reconstruction; Left ventricular volumetry; Real-time imaging; SPARSE sampling; SPARSE-SENSE cine imaging