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Published on: May 24, 2021
Pre-clinical functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Part II: The heart
Nadja M Meßner1, Frank G Zöllner1, Raffi Kalayciyan1
1Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Insights
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) cause many deaths globally. This review covers advanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) techniques for small animal models at ultra-high fields (UHF) to improve cardiac function analysis.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Cardiovascular Research
- Veterinary Medicine
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent a significant global health burden, necessitating advanced diagnostic tools.
- Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is a leading non-invasive technique for assessing cardiac morphology and function due to its high resolution and soft-tissue contrast.
- Small animal models are crucial for understanding cardiac diseases, and their study benefits from progress in MRI technology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review state-of-the-art cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) techniques.
- To discuss applications of CMRI in small animal models of cardiac disease.
- To highlight advancements in ultra-high field (UHF) MRI for cardiac imaging.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on small animal cardiac MRI.
- Focus on ultra-high field (UHF) MRI systems and techniques.
- Analysis of imaging schemes and dedicated equipment for small animal cardiac assessment.
Main Results:
- Significant progress in fast imaging schemes and specialized equipment for small animal MRI.
- Ultra-high field (UHF) MRI enables enhanced visualization and functional analysis of small animal hearts.
- CMRI is established as the gold standard for cardiac function analysis in research settings.
Conclusions:
- Advanced CMRI techniques, particularly at UHF, are vital for studying cardiac disease in small animal models.
- Improvements in MRI technology are expanding the capabilities for cardiac research.
- This review provides an overview of the current landscape and future directions in small animal cardiac MRI.
Abstract:
One third of all deaths worldwide in 2008 were caused by cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and the incidence of CVD related deaths rises ever more. Thus, improved imaging techniques and modalities are needed for the evaluation of cardiac morphology and function. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is a minimally invasive technique that is increasingly important due to its high spatial and temporal resolution, its high soft tissue contrast and its ability of functional and quantitative imaging. It is widely accepted as the gold standard of cardiac functional analysis. In the short period of small animal MRI, remarkable progress has been achieved concerning new, fast imaging schemes as well as purpose-built equipment. Dedicated small animal scanners allow for tapping the full potential of recently developed animal models of cardiac disease. In this paper, we review state-of-the-art cardiac magnetic resonance imaging techniques and applications in small animals at ultra-high fields (UHF).
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