Quantification of left ventricular functional parameter values using 3D spiral bSSFP and through-time non-Cartesian...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR)
• Medical Imaging Physics
• Cardiac Function Analysis

Background:

• Standard CMR for left ventricular (LV) function uses multi-breathhold sequences, causing patient fatigue and challenges in certain patient groups.
• This limitation is addressed by a novel 3D spiral sequence combined with 3D through-time spiral GRAPPA parallel imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel 3D spiral CMR technique for LV functional parameter analysis.
• To compare its performance against the standard 2D multi-breathhold method regarding accuracy, scan time, and image quality.

Main Methods:

• Ten healthy volunteers underwent 3 T imaging using both the 3D spiral and standard 2D techniques.
• Comparisons included systolic LV functional parameters (Bland-Altman plots), total scan time (Welch's t-test), and image quality scores (Wilcoxon signed-rank test).

Main Results:

• Systolic LV functional parameters showed no significant difference between the 3D spiral and 2D methods.
• The 3D spiral technique required only one 14-second breathhold for dynamic scanning, with a total scan time of 48 seconds.
• The standard 2D method averaged 5 minutes 40 seconds for the same LV coverage, and image quality scores for the 3D spiral method were rated as average or higher.

Conclusions:

• The 3D through-time spiral GRAPPA method achieves equivalent LV functional parameters to the standard 2D technique.
• This novel method significantly reduces total scan time and requires only a single breathhold, potentially decreasing patient fatigue.
• The 3D spiral technique offers acceptable image quality and is a promising alternative for clinical cardiac examinations.