Comparison of three accelerated pulse sequences for semiquantitative myocardial perfusion imaging using sensitivity encoding incorporating temporal filtering (TSENSE)

Abstract

Purpose:To investigate the parallel acquisition technique sensitivity encoding incorporating temporal filtering (TSENSE) with three saturation-recovery (SR) prepared pulse sequences (SR turbo fast low-angle shot [SR-Turbo-FLASH], SR true fast imaging with steady precession [SRTrueFISP], and SR-prepared segmented echo-planar-imaging [SR-segEPI]) for semiquantitative first-pass myocardial perfusion imaging. Materials and Methods:In blood-and tissue-equivalent phantoms the relationship between signal intensity (SI) and contrast-medium concentration was evaluated for the three pulse sequences. In volunteers, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and normalized upslopes (NUS) were calculated from signal-time curves (STC). Moreover, artifacts, image noise, and overall image quality were qualitatively evaluated.Results: Phantom data showed a 40% increased linear range of the relation between SI and contrast-medium concentration with TSENSE. In volunteers, TSENSE introduced significantly residual artifacts and loss in SNR and CNR. No differences were found for NUS values with TSENSE. SR-TrueFISP yielded highest SNR, CNR, and quality scores. However, in SR-True-FISP images, darkbanding artifacts were most pronounced. NUS values obtained with SR-TrueFISP were significantly higher and with SR-segEPI significantly lower than with SR-TurboFLASH. Conclusion:Semiquantitative myocardial perfusion imaging can significantly benefit from TSENSE due to shorter acquisition times and increased linearity of the pulse sequences. Among the three pulse sequences tested, SRTrueFISP yielded best image quality. SR-segEPI proved to be an interesting alternative due to shorter acquisition times, higher linearity and fewer dark-banding artifacts.

Imaging Sequences for First Pass Perfusion - A Review

“…There is no clear consensus regarding the sequence of choice for myocardial perfusion imaging, although there is considerable debate and several published comparisons (18)(19)(20)(21)(22).…”

“…The sequence parameters (Table 1) are based on values from current state-of-the-art implementations reported in the recent literature (21,51) and are based on high performance gradients capable of 45 mT/m at 200 mT/m/ms slew rate. This example serves to illustrate the relative SNR and CNR, linearity, and the uniformity of k-space which affects the PSF.…”

“…The topic of image analysis is another source of debate, and there remain questions on the value and accuracy of various performance indices. For issues beyond those dealt with in the current review, there is an abundance of literature on myocardial perfusion imaging, including original research on imaging methodology (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17), comparisons between methods (18)(19)(20)(21)(22), review papers (23)(24)(25)(26)(27), and papers dealing with the subject of quantitative perfusion analysis (26,(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33).…”

Quantification of pulmonary blood flow (PBF): Validation of perfusion MRI and nonlinear contrast agent (CA) dose correction with HO positron emission tomography (PET)

“…The dependence of the SI on the CA concentration is not linear (15,16). Only at sufficiently low CA concentrations is the error of assuming a linear relation negligible and the approach is appropriate according to Ref.…”

114 The Relationship between signal intensity and myocardial gadolinium concentration for three MR perfusion pulse sequences: implications for measuring absolute myocardial blood flow

“…Dual-bolus [4] and dual-echo [5] techniques have been proposed to address the known nonlinear signal response of the blood pool to gadolinium. Based on phantom studies or signal response to escalating Gd dose, recent reports suggest that despite its low signal, the myocardial response to gadolinium is also nonlinear [6,7]. The myocardial signal response to myocardial gadolinium concentration needs to be defined for common perfusion pulse sequences to guide the appropriate application of absolute perfusion measurements by deconvolution.…”