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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
Development and Evaluation of 3D-Printed Cardiovascular Phantoms for Interventional Planning and Training
Published on: January 18, 2021
3D velocity quantification in the heart: improvements by 3D PC-SSFP
Marijn P Rolf1, Mark B M Hofman, Joost P A Kuijer
1Department of Physics and Medical Technology, ICaR-VU, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. mp.rolf@vumc.nl
Purpose:
To test whether a 3D imaging sequence with phase contrast (PC) velocity encoding based on steady-state free precession (SSFP) improves 3D velocity quantification in the heart compared to the currently available gradient echo (GE) approach.
Materials And Methods:
The 3D PC-SSFP sequence with 1D velocity encoding was compared at the mitral valve in 12 healthy subjects with 3D PC-GE at 1.5T. Velocity measurements, velocity-to-noise-ratio efficiency (VNR(eff)), intra- and interobserver variability of area and velocity measurements, contrast-to-noise-ratio (CNR), and artifact sensitivity were evaluated in both long- and short-axis orientation.
Results:
Descending aorta mean and peak velocities correlated well (r(2) = 0.79 and 0.93) between 3D PC-SSFP and 3D PC-GE. At the mitral valve, mean velocity correlation was moderate (r(2) = 0.70 short axis, 0.56 long axis) and peak velocity showed good correlation (r(2) = 0.94 short axis, 0.81 long axis). In some cases VNR(eff) was higher, in others lesser, depending on slab orientation and cardiac phase. Intra- and interobserver variability was generally better for 3D PC-SSFP. CNR improved significantly, especially at end systole. Artifact levels did not increase.
Conclusion:
3D SSFP velocity quantification was successfully tested in the heart. Blood-myocardium contrast improved significantly, resulting in more reproducible velocity measurements for 3D PC-SSFP at 1.5T.
