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Myocardial Approximate Spin-lock Dispersion Mapping using a Simultaneous T2 and TRAFF2 Mapping at 3T MRI
Insights
This study introduces a new non-contrast cardiac MRI method for assessing myocardial infarction damage. The technique offers excellent reproducibility and map quality, paving the way for safer patient assessments.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Biomarker Development
- Medical Physics
Background:
- Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a leading cause of death, with myocardial infarction (MI) accounting for a third of cases.
- Cardiac MRI, particularly Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE), assesses MI damage but gadolinium contrast agents have limitations.
- Spin-lock (SL) dispersion is a promising non-contrast alternative, but current methods face challenges at 3T, including Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limitations and artifacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel, single breath-hold, simultaneous TRAFF2 and T2 mapping sequence for spin-lock (SL) dispersion mapping at 3T.
- To overcome SAR limitations and off-resonance artifacts associated with traditional SL preparations.
- To provide a non-contrast MRI method for assessing myocardial viability and fibrosis in patients with MI.
Main Methods:
- Development of a simultaneous TRAFF2 and T2 mapping sequence for 3T MRI.
- Acquisition and analysis of data in phantom experiments to assess reproducibility and map quality.
- Comparison of results with reference methods for TRAFF2, T2, and SL dispersion values.
- In vivo imaging to evaluate clinical applicability and artifact levels.
Main Results:
- The proposed sequence demonstrated excellent reproducibility in phantom studies (coefficient of variations < 10%).
- Myocardial TRAFF2, T2, and SL dispersion values obtained were comparable to reference methods.
- High-quality T2, TRAFF2, and SL dispersion maps were achieved in phantoms and in vivo, free from major artifacts.
Conclusions:
- The developed single breath-hold sequence enables accurate and reproducible SL dispersion mapping at 3T.
- This non-contrast approach offers a promising alternative to LGE for assessing MI-related myocardial damage and fibrosis.
- The technique has significant potential for clinical application in MI assessment, improving patient safety and accessibility.
Abstract:
Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Myocardial infarction (MI) represents a third of all IHD cases, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often used to assess its damage to myocardial viability. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is the current gold standard, but the use of gadolinium-based agents limits the clinical applicability in some patients. Spin-lock (SL) dispersion has recently been proposed as a promising non-contrast biomarker for the assessment of MI. However, at 3T, the required range of SL preparations acquired at different amplitudes suffers from specific absorption rate (SAR) limitations and off-resonance artifacts. Relaxation Along a Fictitious Field (RAFF) is an alternative to SL preparations with lower SAR requirements, while still sampling relaxation in the rotating frame. In this study, a single breath-hold simultaneous TRAFF2 and T2 mapping sequence is proposed for SL dispersion mapping at 3T. Excellent reproducibility (coefficient of variations lower than 10%) was achieved in phantom experiments, indicating good intrascan repeatability. The average myocardial TRAFF2, T2, and SL dispersion obtained with the proposed sequence (68.0±10.7 ms, 44.0±4.0 ms, and 0.4±0.2 ×10-4 s2, respectively) were comparable to the reference methods (62.7±11.7 ms, 41.2±2.4 ms, and 0.3±0.2x 10-4s2, respectively). High visual map quality, free of B0 and B1+ related artifacts, for T2, TRAFF2, and SL dispersion maps were obtained in phantoms and in vivo, suggesting promise in clinical use at 3T. Clinical relevance - and imaging promises non-contrast assessment of scar and focal fibrosis in a single breath-hold using approximate spin-lock dispersion mapping.
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