Cine MR imaging: potential for the evaluation of cardiovascular function

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Medical Physics

Background:

• Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging is crucial for cardiac anatomy but limited in functional evaluation due to long scan times and low temporal resolution.
• Advancements in pulse sequences have led to reduced imaging times and improved temporal resolution for cardiac MR.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report early experiences with cine MR imaging using gradient-recalled acquisition in the steady state (GRASS) for cardiac function assessment.
• To evaluate the efficacy of cine MR imaging in visualizing cardiac structures and function in healthy subjects and patients with heart disease.

Main Methods:

• Utilized cine MR imaging with GRASS, low flip angles, and gradient-recalled echoes.
• Acquired 10–12 cardiac levels with up to 24 time frames per level, completing scans within 30 minutes.
• Displayed images in cinegraphic mode for functional assessment in 36 subjects (14 normal, 22 with heart disease).

Main Results:

• Achieved excellent contrast between blood and myocardium, enabling clear visualization of systolic wall thickening, wall motion, and valve dynamics.
• Successfully identified myocardial infarcts by detecting lack of systolic wall thickening or diastolic wall thinning.
• Detected turbulent blood flow in valvular regurgitation and stenosis through signal loss in blood, differentiating it from myocardium.

Conclusions:

• Cine MR imaging offers a promising new method for evaluating myocardial and valvular function with improved speed and resolution.
• The technique facilitates detailed assessment of cardiac mechanics and pathology, including infarcts and blood flow abnormalities.