title: A feasible and automatic free tool for T1 and ECV mapping.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a useful non-invasive tool for characterizing tissues and detecting myocardial fibrosis and edema. Estimation of extracellular volume fraction (ECV) using T1 sequences is emerging as an accurate biomarker in cardiac diseases associated with diffuse fibrosis. In this study, automatic software for T1 and ECV map generation consisting of an executable file was developed and validated using phantom and human data.
  
  
  METHODS
  T1 mapping was performed in phantoms and 30 subjects (22 patients and 8 healthy subjects) on a 1.5T MR scanner using the modified Look-Locker inversion-recovery (MOLLI) sequence prototype before and 15 min after contrast agent administration. T1 maps were generated using a Fast Nonlinear Least Squares algorithm. Myocardial ECV maps were generated using both pre- and post-contrast T1 image registration and automatic extraction of blood relaxation rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using our software, pre- and post-contrast T1 maps were obtained in phantoms and healthy subjects resulting in a robust and reliable quantification as compared to reference software. Coregistration of pre- and post-contrast images improved the quality of ECV maps. Mean ECV value in healthy subjects was 24.5%±2.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that it is possible to obtain accurate T1 maps and informative ECV maps using our software. Pixel-wise ECV maps obtained with this automatic software made it possible to visualize and evaluate the extent and severity of ECV alterations.
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Unit, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: luisa.altabella@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Altabella
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Unit, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy; Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borrazzo
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Unit, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carnì
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Galea
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Francone
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiorelli
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Unit, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy; Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Castro
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Iacopo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carbone
mesh_terms: D001331:Automation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005355:Fibrosis; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012984:Software
keywords: Cardiac magnetic resonance; ECV mapping; Myocardial fibrosis; T1 mapping