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Updated: Nov 11, 2025
In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
Normative Data for Myocardial Native T1 and Extracellular Volume Fraction in Children
Joseph J Pagano1, Deane Yim1, Christopher Z Lam1
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Stollery Children's Hospital, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (J.J.P.); Department of Paediatrics, Division of Cardiology (D.Y., S.J.Y., M.S., L.G.W.) and Department of Diagnostic Imaging (C.Z.L., S.J.Y., M.S., L.G.W.), The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; and Department of Cardiology, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Australia (D.Y.).
Insights
This study establishes normative myocardial T1 and extracellular volume (ECV) data for healthy children using T1 mapping. These findings provide essential reference values for pediatric cardiac assessments.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Medical Physics
Background:
- Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) T1 mapping is a valuable tool for assessing myocardial tissue characteristics.
- Establishing normative data in pediatric populations is crucial for accurate interpretation of T1 and extracellular volume (ECV) measurements.
- Previous studies have focused primarily on adult populations, leaving a gap in pediatric normative data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative reference values for myocardial native T1 and extracellular volume (ECV) fraction in healthy children.
- To provide a basis for the detection of diffuse myocardial disease in pediatric patients.
- To evaluate the feasibility of using T1 mapping techniques in a pediatric cohort.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of cardiac MRI data from 48 healthy pediatric patients (9-18 years) undergoing 1.5-T MRI.
- T1 mapping was performed using a 5(number of heartbeats [nHB])3 modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence.
- T1 values were calculated post-contrast administration in 19 patients, with analysis of regional differences (septum vs. free wall).
Main Results:
- Average native myocardial T1 was 1008 msec ± 31, with no significant difference between sexes.
- Average extracellular volume (ECV) fraction was 20.8% ± 2.4, also showing no significant sex-based difference.
- Myocardial T1 and ECV values were found to be higher in the septum compared to the free wall.
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first normative data for myocardial native T1 and ECV in children using the MOLLI sequence at 1.5 T.
- These normative values are essential for the accurate interpretation of T1 mapping in pediatric cardiac conditions.
- The findings support the use of T1 mapping as a non-invasive method for characterizing myocardial tissue in children.
Purpose:
To establish normative data for myocardial T1, including extracellular volume (ECV) fraction, in healthy children.
Materials And Methods:
In this retrospective, single-center study, T1 mapping data were collected from 48 healthy pediatric patients (14 years ± 3 [standard deviation]; range, 9-18 years; 27 of 48 [56%] male) referred for cardiac screening 1.5-T MRI between 2014 and 2017. T1 relaxometry was performed using a 5(number of heartbeats [nHB])3 modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence, where nHB was three to five heartbeats depending on the heart rate, and was repeated 15 minutes following the administration of 0.2 mmol per kilogram of body weight of gadobenate dimeglumine, with 19 patients receiving contrast material. T1 values were calculated using a curve-fitting algorithm on average region-of-interest signal and corrected for imperfect inversion pulse efficiency. Comparisons within patients were performed with paired Student t test, between groups with unpaired Student t test or Mann-Whitney U test, and linear regression was performed to examine for associations with other variables.
Results:
Average native T1 was 1008 msec ± 31, with a nonsignificant increase in females (1017 msec ± 27 vs 1001 msec ± 33, P = .066). Average ECV was 20.8% ± 2.4, with a nonsignificant increase in values in females (21.7% ± 1.9 vs 20.0% ± 2.6, P = .123). T1 and ECV values were increased in the septum versus the free wall.
Conclusion:
Normative data are presented for myocardial native T1 and ECV using the MOLLI T1 mapping sequence at 1.5 T.Supplemental material is available for this article.© RSNA, 2020.
