Optimizing Cine Cardiac MRI: Technical Advances and Clinical Applications

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Medical Physics

Background:

• Cine cardiac MRI is the gold standard for non-invasive cardiac function assessment.
• Current techniques face limitations in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and temporal resolution.
• Off-resonance effects, SAR constraints, and artifacts limit balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) at higher field strengths (≥3T).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in cine cardiac MRI.
• To explore methods for improving image quality, acquisition speed, and motion robustness.
• To discuss strategies for artifact mitigation and sequence selection across various magnetic field strengths.

Main Methods:

• Optimization of pulse sequence parameters (TR, TE, FA, BW).
• Implementation of wideband bSSFP and real-time imaging using compressed sensing (CS) and artificial intelligence (AI).
• Utilizing spoiled gradient recalled-echo (SPGR) sequences for metal artifact reduction and exploring innovations like advanced shimming, AI reconstruction, and 7T MRI.

Main Results:

• Optimized parameters and advanced techniques enhance SNR and temporal resolution.
• Wideband bSSFP, CS, and AI improve motion robustness and acquisition speed.
• SPGR sequences effectively mitigate artifacts from cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs).

Conclusions:

• Advances in parameter optimization, artifact mitigation, and sequence selection are crucial for faster, safer cine cardiac MRI.
• AI and novel sequences offer potential for personalized cardiac imaging.
• Further validation and safety management are needed for emerging technologies like 7T MRI.