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In vivo diffusion tensor MRI of the human heart: Reproducibility of breath‐hold and navigator‐based approaches
Author(s) -
NiellesVallespin Sonia,
Mekkaoui Choukri,
Gatehouse Peter,
Reese Timothy G.,
Keegan Jennifer,
Ferreira Pedro F.,
Collins Steve,
Speier Peter,
Feiweier Thorsten,
Silva Ranil,
Jackowski Marcel P.,
Pennell Dudley J.,
Sosnovik David E.,
Firmin David
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.24488
Subject(s) - diffusion mri , reproducibility , fractional anisotropy , nuclear medicine , in vivo , nuclear magnetic resonance , single shot , chemistry , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , physics , radiology , microbiology and biotechnology , chromatography , biology , optics
The aim of this study was to implement a quantitative in vivo cardiac diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) technique that was robust, reproducible, and feasible to perform in patients with cardiovascular disease. A stimulated‐echo single‐shot echo‐planar imaging (EPI) sequence with zonal excitation and parallel imaging was implemented, together with a novel modification of the prospective navigator (NAV) technique combined with a biofeedback mechanism. Ten volunteers were scanned on two different days, each time with both multiple breath‐hold (MBH) and NAV multislice protocols. Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and helix angle (HA) fiber maps were created. Comparison of initial and repeat scans showed good reproducibility for both MBH and NAV techniques for FA ( P > 0.22), MD ( P > 0.15), and HA ( P > 0.28). Comparison of MBH and NAV FA (FA MBHday1 = 0.60 ± 0.04, FA NAVday1 = 0.60 ± 0.03, P = 0.57) and MD (MD MBHday1 = 0.8 ± 0.2 × 10 −3 mm 2 /s, MD NAVday1 = 0.9 ± 0.2 × 10 −3 mm 2 /s, P = 0.07) values showed no significant differences, while HA values (HA MBHday1Endo = 22 ± 10°, HA MBHday1Mid‐Endo = 20 ± 6°, HA MBHday1Mid‐Epi = −1 ± 6°, HA MBHday1Epi = −17 ± 6°, HA NAVday1Endo = 7 ± 7°, HA NAVday1Mid‐Endo = 13 ± 8°, HA NAVday1Mid‐Epi = −2 ± 7°, HA NAVday1Epi = −14 ± 6°) were significantly different. The scan duration was 20% longer with the NAV approach. Currently, the MBH approach is the more robust in normal volunteers. While the NAV technique still requires resolution of some bulk motion sensitivity issues, these preliminary experiments show its potential for in vivo clinical cardiac diffusion tensor imaging and for delivering high‐resolution in vivo 3D DTI tractography of the heart. Magn Reson Med 70:454–465, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.