Flexible cardiac T1 mapping using a modified Look-Locker acquisition with saturation recovery

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Quantitative Myocardial Perfusion and Function

Background:

• Conventional inversion recovery T1 mapping requires long relaxation times, limiting imaging efficiency.
• Breath-held cardiac imaging necessitates rapid acquisition techniques to minimize motion artifacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a modified Look-Locker acquisition using saturation recovery (MLLSR) for efficient breath-held myocardial T1 mapping.
• To assess the feasibility and accuracy of MLLSR compared to conventional methods.

Main Methods:

• Development of the MLLSR sequence for T1 mapping.
• Phantom studies to correlate MLLSR with single-point inversion recovery spin echo.
• In vivo T1 measurements in healthy volunteers and patients with myocardial infarction.
• Accelerated MLLSR acquisition with reduced scan time.

Main Results:

• MLLSR demonstrates substantially higher imaging efficiency than conventional inversion recovery T1 mapping.
• High correlation observed between MLLSR phantom T1 measurements and conventional methods.
• In vivo T1 values in normal and infarcted myocardium align with established literature.
• Accelerated MLLSR achieved equivalent results with half the scan time (8 vs. 16 heartbeats).

Conclusions:

• MLLSR offers improved imaging efficiency for breath-held myocardial T1 mapping.
• The technique enables shorter breath-holds and faster scan times, increasing clinical utility.
• MLLSR provides flexibility for tailoring acquisitions to patient needs and breath-holding capacity.