Aims and objectives
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) has become an important diagnostic imaging modality in cardiovascular medicine.
3T MRI scanners provide a wide range of cardiovascular imaging applications,
but advantages and disadvantages must be considered.
A 3T system,
with its inherent high SNR,
high resonance frequencies and longer T1,
offers opportunities to improve the quality of cardiovascular MR imaging.
Despite the advantages of this technique,
numerous artefacts are frequently encountered,
so cardiac imaging requires specific challenges with respect to cardiac motion.
These challenges need an understanding of the...
Methods and materials
We reviewed 3T-CMR scans of 190 patients; 60 patients also underwent at 1,5T CMR examination within 3 months.
Using Cvi42 System we evaluated the agreement between automatic and manual measurements of Cardiac Volumes and Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE),
comparing 3T vs 1.5T.
We evaluated the image quality of different sequences used at 3T CMR: cine SSFP,
LGE,
first-pass perfusion,
T1- and T2-weighted images.
Image quality of these sequences were analysed using a numerical scale (score 1-4) with lower score indicating better image quality.
Image quality...
Results
3T automatic Cardiac Volumes measurements had minor reproducibility (coefficient of variation (CV) was 30% for left cardiac sections and 61% for right sections); similar results for the 3T automatic LGE measurements (CV 39%) were observed.
T2-weighted images were inversely associated with BMI (One-way Anova,
with post-hoc Tukey’s test p<0,0001)
Ratio between scar tissue SI and normal myocardium SI showed median value of 3,4 and 7,2 respectively at 1,5T and 3T; this difference was statistically significant (Wilcoxon rank sing test paired samples p=0,0005).
Ratio between normal-perfusion...
Conclusion
3T CMR imaging improved the performance of several CMR sequences,
in our experience particularly dynamic first-pass perfusion and delayed enhancement.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast-to-Noise Ratio (CNR) were better at 3T with an improved diagnostic value,
especially in perfusion studies,
to evaluate the decreased cardiac reserve.
Morpho-functional analysis did not offer significant benefits,
particularly T2-weigheted images in patients with high BMI.
Finally,
3T automatic Cardiac Volumes measurements had minor reproducibility,
especially for the right cardiac sections.
References
Prabhakar Rajiah,
Michael A.
Bolen.
Cardiovascular MR Imaging at 3 T:Opportunities,
Challenges,
and Solutions.
RadioGraphics 2014; 34:1612–1635
Khalid Alfudhili,
Pier G Masci,et al.
Current artefacts in cardiac and chest magnetic resonance imaging: tips and tricks.
Br J Radiol.
June 2016; 89(1062): 20150987.
Onkar B Auti,
Kalashree Bandekar,
et al.Cardiac magnetic resonance techniques: Our experience on wide bore 3 tesla magnetic resonance system.Indian J Radiol Imaging.
2017 Oct-Dec; 27(4): 404–412.
Klinke V,
,
Muzzarelli S,
,
Lauriers N,
,
Locca D,
,
Vincenti G,
,
Monney...