Technical note: Accuracy and precision of T2 and T2* with a gradient-echo spin-echo (GESE) sequence for cardiac...

The use of a gradient echo spin echo (GESE) method to obtain rapid T2 and T2* estimation in the heart has been proposed. The effect of acquisition parameter settings on T2 and T2* bias and precision have not been investigated in depth.

To understand factors impacting the quantification of T2 and T2* values with a gradient echo spin echo (GESE) method using echo planar imaging (EPI) readouts in a reduced field of view acquisition.

The GESE method is implemented with a reduced field-of-view using an outer volume suppression (OVS) technique to minimize the time for multi-echo EPI readouts. The number of EPI readouts (images) for the GESE is optimized using Cramer-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) and Monte Carlo simulations with a nonlinear least-square (NLLS) estimator. The SNR requirements were studied using the latter simulation method for a selected range of T2 and T2* values and T2/T2* ratios. Two healthy control subjects were imaged with the proposed GESE sequence and evaluated with the NLLS estimation method. In addition, the proposed OVS method was compared with a saturation bands OVS method in one subject. Clinical T2 and T2* mappings were used as the reference.

The optimal number of EPI readouts is five and the performance is slightly better when the refocusing pulse is placed between the 2^nd and 3^rd readouts. The SNR requirement for achieving a target bias < 1 ms and standard deviation (SD) < 5 ms is more demanding when T2/T2* ratio increases. The minimum SNR requirement in the GESE acquisition should vary from 6 to 20 depending on specific myocardial T2 and T2* values at 3T. The T2 and T2* estimates using the proposed OVS method and the saturation bands OVS method are both similar to the reference.

The GESE sequence with five EPI readouts is a feasible and efficient technique that can estimate T2 and T2* values in the septal myocardium within a heartbeat when the SNR requirement can be satisfied.