Free-breathing three-dimensional simultaneous myocardial T1 and T2 mapping based on multi-parametric SAturation-recovery and Variable-flip-Angle

J Cardiovasc Magn Reson. 2024;26(2):101065. doi: 10.1016/j.jocmr.2024.101065. Epub 2024 Jul 24.

Abstract

Background: Quantitative myocardial tissue characterization with T1 and T2 parametric mapping can provide an accurate and complete assessment of tissue abnormalities across a broad range of cardiomyopathies. However, current clinical T1 and T2 mapping tools rely predominantly on two-dimensional (2D) breath-hold sequences. Clinical adoption of three-dimensional (3D) techniques is limited by long scan duration. The aim of this study is to develop and validate a time-efficient 3D free-breathing simultaneous T1 and T2 mapping sequence using multi-parametric SAturation-recovery and Variable-flip-Angle (mSAVA).

Methods: mSAVA acquires four volumes for simultaneous whole-heart T1 and T2 mapping. We validated mSAVA using simulations, phantoms, and in-vivo experiments at 3T in 11 healthy subjects and 11 patients with diverse cardiomyopathies. T1 and T2 values by mSAVA were compared with modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) and gradient and spin echo (GraSE), respectively. The clinical performance of mSAVA was evaluated against late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging in patients.

Results: Phantom T1 and T2 by mSAVA showed a strong correlation to reference sequences (R2 = 0.98 and 0.99). In-vivo imaging with an imaging resolution of 1.5 × 1.5 × 8 mm3 could be achieved. Myocardial T1 and T2 of healthy subjects by mSAVA were 1310 ± 46 and 44.6 ± 2.0 ms, respectively, with T1 standard deviation higher than MOLLI (105 ± 12 vs 60 ± 16 ms) and T2 standard deviation lower than GraSE (4.5 ± 0.8 vs 5.5 ± 1.0 ms). mSAVA T1 and T2 maps presented consistent findings in patients undergoing LGE. Myocardial T1 and T2 of all patients by mSAVA were 1421 ± 79 and 47.2 ± 3.3 ms, respectively.

Conclusion: mSAVA is a fast 3D technique promising for clinical whole-heart T1 and T2 mapping.

Keywords: Cardiac parametric mapping; Free‐breathing; Myocardium tissue characterization; Saturation; Whole-heart coverage.

Publication types

  • Validation Study
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cardiomyopathies* / diagnostic imaging
  • Cardiomyopathies* / physiopathology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Contrast Media / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted*
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardium* / pathology
  • Phantoms, Imaging*
  • Predictive Value of Tests*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Respiration

Substances

  • Contrast Media