A New approach towards improved visualization of myocardial edema using T2-weighted imaging: A cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) study

Myra S. Cocker, Steven M. Shea, Oliver Strohm, Jordin Green, Hassan Abdel-Aty, Matthias G. Friedrich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To compare T2-weighted cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging with AASPIR (asymmetric adiabatic spectral inversion recovery) and STIR (short T1 inversion recovery) for myocardial signal intensity, image quality, and fat suppression. Materials and Methods: Forty consecutive patients (47 ± 16 years old) referred by cardiologists for CMR-based myocardial tissue characterization were scanned with both STIR and AASPIR T2-weighted imaging approaches. Signal intensity of left ventricular myocardium was normalized to a region of interest generating a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In six patients with regional edema on STIR the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was assessed. Two independent observers used a scoring system to evaluate image quality and artifact suppression. Six healthy volunteers (three males, 32 ± 7 years) were recruited to compare fat suppression between AASPIR and STIR. Results: SNR of AASPIR was greater than STIR for basal (128 ± 44 vs. 83 ± 40, P < 0.001), mid- (144 ± 65 vs. 96 ± 39, P < 0.01), and apical (145 ± 59 vs. 105 ± 35, P < 0.05) myocardium. Improved image quality and greater suppression of artifacts was demonstrated with AASPIR. In patients with regional edema, CNR increased by 49% with AASPIR, while SNR of pericardial fat did not differ (44 ± 39 vs. 33 ± 30, P > 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings support the implementation of an AASPIR-based approach for T2-weighted imaging due to improved pericardial fat suppression, image quality, and artifact suppression with greater CNR and SNR.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)286-292
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Volume34
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • T2-weighted imaging
  • asymmetric adiabatic spectral inversion recovery (AASPIR)
  • cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)
  • myocardial edema
  • short T1 inversion recovery (STIR)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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