Kerstin Ulrike Bauner MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Andreas Biffar, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

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

Andreas Greiser PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, Siemens AG

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

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

To delineate infarcted myocardial tissue from normal myocardium by means of T1-maps in unenhanced and contrast-enhanced scans.

18 patients with chronic myocardial infarction were examined at 1.5T (Magnetom Avanto, Siemens Healthcare). A modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence (TR/TE 200.7/1.03msec; TI 100-4000msec; flip 35°) was performed pre- and 10min post-contrast (0.15mmol/kg Gadobutrol, Bayer Schering Pharma) at an apical, midmyocardial and basal short axis position. For calculation of T1-values signal intensities of myocardial and infracted tissue were measured at 11 points of time with two blocks of 3 and a third block 5 consecutive image acquisitions. Within each block TI increased by steps of 80 msec. 15 minutes after contrast medium application a single slice IR GRE was employed for imaging of delayed enhancement. Data were post-processed with an in-house built software (PMI 0.4). T1 maps were created on the basis of unenhanced and enhanced data. Areas of normal and infarcted myocardial tissue were identified on delayed enhancement images and the regions of interest were copied to the unenhanced and enhanced MOLLI images. The analyses of T1-values were performed for normal myocardium (MYO), infarcted myocardium (CMI) and the left ventricular cavity (LVC). In addition T1-ratios of MYO/LVC and CMI/LVC were calculated. Student’s t-test was used for statistical analysis of acquired and calculated data.  

The comparison of T1-values of MYO and CMI revealed significant differences in pre-contrast scans (1024±38vs.1200±57msec; p<0.001), as well as CMI T1-values in comparison to LVC (1200±57 vs. 1502±70msec; p<0.001). The calculated ratios of MYO/LVC and CMI/LVC were also significantly different (0.68 ± 0.04 vs.0.79 ± 0.05; p<0.001) in pre-contrast scans. In post-contrast evaluations differences of T1-values in MYO and CMI were equally high (365 ± 46 vs. 231 ± 52msec; p<0.001) resulting in significantly different T1-ratios of MYO/LVC (1.5±0.19) and CMI/LVC (1.0± 0.11; p<0.001).

MR-measurements of T1-values with the LVC as reference allow for differentiation of infarcted areas from normal myocardium in enhanced and unenhanced imaging.

Besides delineation of CMI by gadolinium enhancement identification of infarction in unenhanced scans may be important especially for patients with impaired renal function in consideration of NSF.

Bauner, K, Biffar, A, Theisen, D, Greiser, A, Reiser, M, Wintersperger, B, Myocardial T1 Mapping in Chronic Myocardial Infarction: Unenhanced and Contrast-enhanced MR Imaging.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9003069.html