title: Real-time SPARSE-SENSE cine MR imaging in atrial fibrillation: a feasibility study.
abstract: Background Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relies on correct ECG-gating, which is hindered in arrhythmia. Purpose To examine whether a prototype free-breathing real-time cine sequence using SPARSE-SENSE (SPARSE) improves left ventricular quantification in atrial fibrillation. Material and Methods On a 1.5T MR system left ventricular short-axis stacks were acquired of the SPARSE sequence and of a "reference" steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequence with arrhythmia rejection in 20 patients with atrial fibrillation. Two radiologists independently rated arrhythmia-caused artifact severity in both sequences using a 4-point scale. Coefficients of variation of myocardial signal intensity for both sequences were acquired. Volumetry was performed twice by one reader and once by another reader. Correlation between artifact severity and employed sequence was analyzed by modified Fisher's exact test. Coefficients of variation and volumetric data were compared by paired t-test and intraclass correlation. Results Median arrhythmia-caused artifact severity was 2 in both readers for SSFP and 0 (reader 1)/1 (reader 2) for SPARSE, being significantly lower in SPARSE ( P < 0.001). Mean coefficient of variance was significantly smaller in SPARSE (0.11 ± 0.04) compared to SSFP (0.22 ± 0.13, P = 0.003), which was interpreted as a hint for fewer artifacts in SPARSE. Only a small difference of 9 ± 15 mL was seen for end-systolic volume ( P = 0.019) between sequences, otherwise no significant difference was detected (end-diastolic volume, P = 0.200; stroke volume, P = 0.554; ejection fraction, P = 0.136; myocardial mass, P = 0.353). Intraclass correlation between sequences was good to excellent (range, 0.80-0.97). Conclusion Real-time MRI with SPARSE data sampling is promising in atrial fibrillation because it reduces arrhythmia-caused artifacts.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goebel
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nensa
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Haemi P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Schemuth
authors.affiliation: 2 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: 2 Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.|3 High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Quick
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schlosser
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nassenstein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Real-time imaging; SPARSE sampling; SPARSE-SENSE cine imaging; absolute arrhythmia; left ventricular volumetry