Parallel acquisition techniques in cardiac cine magnetic resonance imaging using TrueFISP sequences: Comparison of image quality and artifacts

Abstract

Purpose:To compare image quality, artifacts, and signalto-noise ratio (SNR) in cardiac cine TrueFISP magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with and without parallel acquisition techniques (PAT). Materials and Methods:MRI was performed in 16 subjects with a TrueFISP sequence (1.5 T; Magnetom Sonata, Siemens): TR, 3.0 msec; TE, 1.5 msec; flip angle (FA), 60°. Three axes were scanned without PAT (no PAT) and using the generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisition (GRAPPA) and modified sensitivity encoding (mSENSE) reconstruction algorithms with an autocalibration mode to reduce scan time. A conventional spine array and a body flex array were used. Artifacts, image noise, and overall image quality were classified on a 4-point scale by an observer blinded to the implemented technique; for quantitative comparison, SNR was measured. Results:With a PAT factor of two, acquisition time could be reduced by 39%. No PAT did not show artifacts, and GRAPPA revealed fewer artifacts than mSENSE. PAT provided inferior-quality scores concerning image noise and overall image quality. In quantitative measurements, GRAPPA and mSENSE (20.1 Ϯ 6.2 and 15.6 Ϯ 6.2, respectively) yielded lower SNR than no PAT (30.6 Ϯ 20.1; P Ͻ 0.05) and P Ͻ 0.001). Conclusion:Time savings in PAT are accompanied by artifacts and an increase in image noise. The GRAPPA algorithm was superior to mSENSE concerning image quality, noise, and SNR.

Evaluation of motion correction effect and image quality with the periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) (BLADE) and parallel imaging acquisition technique in the upper abdomen

“…First, SNR was not directly measured due to the inherent inhomogeneous spatial distribution of the iPAT images (22)(23)(24)(25). Further studies should be performed to consider the contrast ratio of abdominal lesions and background organs.…”

Optimization of Parameter Settings in Cine-MR Imaging for Diagnosis of Swallowing

“…This technique is mainly used for T2-weighted imaging. To make the dynamic imaging faster, True-FISP was combined with generalized auto-calibrating partially parallel acquisition (GRAPPA) 9) , a parallel and keyhole imaging technique 13) . In order to optimize the imaging parameters, the effects of the number of receiver coils used, receiving bandwidth, slice thickness, and flip angle on each image were determined.…”

Assessment of Left Ventricular Function with Single Breath-Hold Magnetic Resonance Cine Imaging in Patients with Arrhythmia

“…Wintersperger et al (5) have reported that CNR is decreased with increased acceleration (51% decrease at acceleration factor [R] = 4, 86% decrease at R = 7) and that CNR losses are accompanied by a reduction in image quality. Hunold et al (25) have revealed a 34-49% reduction in SNR for R = 2. SNR and CNR loss can impair the visualization of small endocardial trabeculation, resulting in inferior delineation of endocardial trabeculation which may have led to underestimation of LV volumetric parameters (7,16).…”