Determination of cardiac volumes and mass with FLASH and SSFP cine sequences at 1.5 vs. 3 Tesla: A validation study

Abstract

Purpose:To compare cardiac cine MR imaging using steady state free precession (SSFP) and fast low angle shot (FLASH) techniques at 1.5 and 3 T, and to establish their variabilities and reproducibilities for cardiac volume and mass determination in volunteers. To assess the feasibility of SSFP imaging in patients at 3 T and to determine comparability to volume data acquired at 1.5 T. Materials and Methods:Ten healthy volunteers underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging using SSFP and segmented gradient-echo FLASH, using both a 1.5 and a 3 T MR system on the same day. Ten patients with impaired left ventricular (LV) function were also studied at both field strengths with SSFP.Results: For both SSFP and FLASH, field strength had no effect on the quantification of LV and right ventricular (RV) volumes, mass, or function (P Ն 0.05 for field strength for all parameters). At both 1.5 and 3 T, SSFP yielded smaller LV mass (e.g., at 3 T 109 Ϯ 30 g vs. 142 Ϯ 37 g; P ϭ 0.011) and larger LV volume (e.g., at 3 T end-diastolic volume 149 Ϯ 37 mL vs. 133 Ϯ 31 mL at 5 T; P ϭ 0.041) measurements than FLASH. In patients with reduced LV function, all volume and mass measurements were again similar for SSFP sequences at 1.5 vs. 3 T. In volunteers and patients, measurement variabilities for LV parameters were small for both field strength and sequences, ranging between 3.7% and 10.7% for mass. Conclusion:Compared to 1.5 T, cardiac cine MR imaging at 3 T, using either FLASH or SSFP sequences, is feasible and highly reproducible. Field strength does not have an influence on quantification of cardiac volume or mass, but the systematic overestimation of LV mass and underestimation of LV volume by FLASH compared to SSFP is present at both 1.5 and 3 T. Normal values for cardiac volumes and mass established at 1.5 T can be applied to scans obtained at 3 T.

Interstudy reproducibility of SSFP cine magnetic resonance: Impact of magnetic field strength and parallel imaging

“…Wintersperger et al (9) compared LV volumetric measurements between 1.5T and accelerated 3T studies using TSENSE, but neither myocardial mass nor RV volumetric data were presented, and only ten subjects were studied. Hudsmith et al (27) reported interstudy variability of cardiac measurements at 1.5T and 3T, but only four healthy volunteers were evaluated and parallel imaging was not used. Finally, Grothues et al reported interstudy variability of LV (4) and RV (3) measurements by serial 1.5T CMR, but the studies utilized a gradient echo (FLASH) sequence instead of SSFP, and the impact of 3T was not evaluated.…”

A high-fat diet impairs cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism and cognitive function in healthy human subjects

“…Left and right ventricular endocardium and epicardium of the short axis cine images were manually contoured. With the use of Argus processing (Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany), left and right ventricular volumes, ejections fractions, left ventricular mass, diastolic peak filling rates, and filling times were estimated (22). On average, 19 phases over each cardiac cycle were obtained.…”

“…Pilot images were acquired, followed by horizontal and vertical long axis cine images with the subjects in a supine position. A stack of steady state free precession (SSFP), short axis cine images were subsequently obtained by using breath hold and cardiac gating (22). The short axis images were obtained in a prospective manner, from the base to the apex, in 1-cm thick slices.…”

Oral Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation Does Not Prevent Cardiac Alterations During a High Altitude Trek to Everest Base Camp

“…With the subjects in a supine position, pilot images were acquired, followed by horizontal and vertical longaxis cine images. A stack of steady-state, free precession (SSFP), short-axis cine images were subsequently obtained using breath holding and cardiac gating (Hudsmith et al, 2006). The short-axis images were obtained in a prospective manner from the base to the apex, in 1 cm-thick slices.…”