[Assessment of ventricular wall motion and volume by fast cine MRI using Fastcard sequence]

Left ventricular wall motion and volume are important factors for assessment of cardiac function. Recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) have allowed fast cine MR sequences. Fastcard sequence is an electrocardiographically triggered gradient echo sequence with k-space segmentation and have enabled fast cine acquisition of the heart during breath holding. Improvement in image quality and contrast between myocardium and intraventricular cavity may facilitate assessment of cardiac function using the phased array coil. Drug stress MRI for detection of significant coronary artery stenosis could be more easily performed by this sequence than conventional cine MR sequences. Sequential short axis images obtained with Fastcard sequence also provide an accurate method without assumption of ventricular shape.