Parametric techniques for characterizing myocardial tissue by magnetic resonance imaging (part 1): T1 mapping

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Myocardial fibrosis is a key factor in ventricular dysfunction across various heart diseases.
• Late enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is clinically validated for macroscopic myocardial fibrosis assessment.
• Diffuse myocardial fibrosis and extracellular space expansion are increasingly recognized contributors to cardiac dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state of T1 mapping techniques for myocardial fibrosis assessment.
• To discuss the clinical applications and limitations of T1 mapping in cardiology.
• To highlight the potential of T1 mapping for early detection of cardiac tissue remodeling.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent scientific literature on T1 mapping in cardiovascular magnetic resonance.
• Analysis of T1 mapping's ability to quantify diffuse myocardial fibrosis and extracellular volume.
• Evaluation of clinical validation and potential applications of T1 mapping techniques.

Main Results:

• T1 mapping can quantify diffuse myocardial fibrosis and extracellular space expansion in absolute terms.
• Late enhancement MRI is established for macroscopic fibrosis, while T1 mapping offers diffuse quantification.
• T1 mapping shows promise for detecting early tissue remodeling, potentially enabling timely interventions.

Conclusions:

• T1 mapping is a powerful tool for quantifying diffuse myocardial fibrosis and extracellular space.
• Further validation is required to establish T1 mapping's role in early cardiac remodeling detection and patient prognosis.
• This review summarizes the clinical utility and current limitations of myocardial T1 mapping.