Torleif Anaxagoras Sandner MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Daniel Theisen MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kerstin Ulrike Bauner MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Maximilian F. Reiser MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Konstantin Nikolaou MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Bernd J. Wintersperger MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

CMR is the gold standard in cardiac functional analysis. However, long data acquisition time which necessitates breath-holding repeatedly limits its usability. Another constraint is a time-consuming post-processing procedure. Therefore a recently introduced accelerated TGRAPPA algorithm was tested at 3 T.

35 patients underwent cine MRI at 3 Tesla using a 32-element cardiac coil for signal reception. In all patients a stack of short axis slices was acquired using a non-accelerated cine SSFP technique with 8mm slice thickness and a 2mm slice gap. In addition a multi-planar cine SSFP data set based on three short axis slices, a vertical and a horizontal long axis slice was acquired within a single-breath-hold using an 4-fold (R=4; TGRAPPA) accelerated cine SSFP technique. 4D anaysis was performed with the multi-planar data sets using a commercially available algorithm (syngo ARGUS 4D) with long axis definition of the AV valvular planes. 4D data was compared with the standard single-slice technique according to the Simpsons’ rule for EF, EDV, ESV, myocardial mass (MM), peak ejection rate (PER) and peak filling rate (PFR). In addition time intervals necessary for data acquisition as well as for data post-processing were recorded.

Results of 4D modeling did not show significant differences to the standard approach for EDV (126±46 vs. 127±48ml; P=.83), MM (128±45 vs. 117±38g; P=.19), PER (353±87 vs. 405±107; P=.17) and PFR (283±129 vs. 390±214; P=.16). 4D ESV showed minor differences (56±47 vs. 60±46 ml; P=.02) resulting in minor though significant differences in EF (60±16 vs. 57±15%; P=.04). Standard parameters (EF, EDV, ESV, MM) assessed by 4D showed high correlation (R>0.9; P<.01) to the standard of reference while PER and PFR did not reveal significant correlation. Both, data acquisition (283,1±141,7 vs. 12,0±2,6 sec)  and post-processing (15,2±4,7 vs. 5,4±2,1 min) time efforts, were significant shorter for the multi-planar accelerated cine acquisition.

Multi-planar single breath-hold cine acquisition may facilitate significantly shorter analysis of ventricular function. Detailed ejection and filling parameters values (PER+PFR) though may show off-sets to standard techniques.

3T enables cine MR acceleration capable of single breath-hold ventricular modelling. This approach may substantially speed up workflow for assessment of cardiac function.

Sandner, T, Theisen, D, Bauner, K, Reiser, M, Nikolaou, K, Wintersperger, B, Single Breathhold Analysis of Systolic and Diastolic Ventricular Function with Multiplanar Accelerated Cine MRI at 3 Tesla.  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8008902.html