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3D velocity quantification in the heart: Improvements by 3D PC‐SSFP
Author(s) -
Rolf Marijn P.,
Hofman Mark B.M.,
Kuijer Joost P.A.,
van Rossum Albert C.,
Heethaar Rob M.
Publication year - 2009
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.21933
Subject(s) - steady state free precession imaging , nuclear medicine , orientation (vector space) , artifact (error) , contrast (vision) , nuclear magnetic resonance , physics , medicine , mathematics , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , geometry , optics , computer science , computer vision
Purpose: To test whether a 3D imaging sequence with phase contrast (PC) velocity encoding based on steady‐state free precession (SSFP) improves 3D velocity quantification in the heart compared to the currently available gradient echo (GE) approach. Materials and Methods: The 3D PC‐SSFP sequence with 1D velocity encoding was compared at the mitral valve in 12 healthy subjects with 3D PC‐GE at 1.5T. Velocity measurements, velocity‐to‐noise‐ratio efficiency (VNR eff ), intra‐ and interobserver variability of area and velocity measurements, contrast‐to‐noise‐ratio (CNR), and artifact sensitivity were evaluated in both long‐ and short‐axis orientation. Results: Descending aorta mean and peak velocities correlated well ( r 2 = 0.79 and 0.93) between 3D PC‐SSFP and 3D PC‐GE. At the mitral valve, mean velocity correlation was moderate ( r 2 = 0.70 short axis, 0.56 long axis) and peak velocity showed good correlation ( r 2 = 0.94 short axis, 0.81 long axis). In some cases VNR eff was higher, in others lesser, depending on slab orientation and cardiac phase. Intra‐ and interobserver variability was generally better for 3D PC‐SSFP. CNR improved significantly, especially at end systole. Artifact levels did not increase. Conclusion: 3D SSFP velocity quantification was successfully tested in the heart. Blood‐myocardium contrast improved significantly, resulting in more reproducible velocity measurements for 3D PC‐SSFP at 1.5T. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:947–955. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.