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Free‐breathing 3D steady‐state free precession coronary magnetic resonance angiography: Comparison of diaphragm and cardiac fat navigators
Author(s) -
Nguyen Thanh D.,
Spincemaille Pascal,
Cham Matthew D.,
Weinsaft Jonathan W.,
Prince Martin R.,
Wang Yi
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.21439
Subject(s) - steady state free precession imaging , gating , medicine , image quality , diaphragm (acoustics) , magnetic resonance imaging , breathing , cardiology , nuclear medicine , radiology , computer science , physics , anesthesia , artificial intelligence , image (mathematics) , acoustics , loudspeaker , physiology
Purpose To compare the performance of the conventional diaphragm navigator (DNAV) and the recently developed cardiac fat navigator (FatNAV) in suppressing respiration‐induced cardiac motion in free‐breathing 3D balanced steady‐state free precession coronary MRA (SSFP CMRA). Materials and Methods In 16 healthy volunteers the right coronary artery (RCA) was imaged at 1.5T using a navigator‐gated 3D SSFP CMRA sequence. DNAV and FatNAV gating were performed in random order. Image quality difference was scored by three experienced readers blinded to the gating technique. Blood signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), blood‐to‐myocardium contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR), and navigator efficiency were calculated. Results Diagnostically interpretable CMRA was obtained successfully in all 16 subjects with FatNAV gating (0% failure rate) and only 14 subjects with DNAV gating (12% failure rate). Compared to DNAV gating, FatNAV gating provided similar SNR and CNR, better image quality ( P < 0.01), and 28% improvement in navigator efficiency ( P = 0.002). Conclusion FatNAV gating provides more effective motion suppression and better image quality than DNAV gating for free‐breathing 3D SSFP CMRA of the RCA in healthy subjects. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:509–514. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.