k-t SENSE-accelerated Myocardial Perfusion MR Imaging at 3.0 Tesla-comparison with 1.5 Tesla

Purpose—To determine the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of high spatial resolution myocardial perfusion MR at 3.0 Tesla using k-space and time domain undersampling with sensitivity encoding (k-t SENSE). Materials and Methods—The study was reviewed and approved by the local ethic review board. k-t SENSE perfusion MR was performed at 1.5 Tesla and 3.0 Tesla (saturation recovery gradient echo pulse sequence, repetition time/echo time 3.0ms/1.0ms, flip angle 15°, 5x k-t SENSE acceleration, spatial resolution 1.3×1.3×10mm3). Fourteen volunteers were studied at rest and 37 patients during adenosine stress. In volunteers, comparison was also made with standardresolution (2.5×2.5×10mm3) 2x SENSE perfusion MR at 3.0 Tesla. Image quality, artifact scores, signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and contrast-enhancement ratios (CER) were derived. In patients, diagnostic accuracy of visual analysis to detect >50% diameter stenosis on quantitative coronary angiography was determined by receiver-operator-characteristics (ROC). Results—In volunteers, image quality and artifact scores were similar for 3.0 Tesla and 1.5 Tesla, while SNR was higher (11.6 vs. 5.6) and CER lower (1.1 vs. 1.5, p=0.012) at 3.0 Tesla. Compared with standard-resolution perfusion MR, image quality was higher for k-t SENSE (3.6 vs. 3.1, p=0.04), endocardial dark rim artifacts were reduced (artifact thickness 1.6mm vs. 2.4mm, p<0.001) and CER similar. In patients, area under the ROC curve for detection of coronary stenosis was 0.89 and 0.80, p=0.21 for 3.0 Tesla and 1.5 Tesla, respectively. Address for correspondence: Dr. S. Plein, Academic Unit of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Leeds, G-floor Jubilee Wing, Leeds General Infirmary, Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3EX, United Kingdom, Tel +44 113 3925404, Fax +44 113 3925405, Email: s.plein@leeds.ac. uk. Advances in knowledge 1. k-space and time domain undersampling with sensitivity encoding (k-t SENSE) can be used to accelerate myocardial perfusion MR imaging at 3.0 Tesla. 2. Compared with 1.5 Tesla, k-t SENSE accelerated perfusion MR imaging at 3.0 Tesla improves SNR and yields similar diagnostic accuracy to detect significant coronary artery stenosis. 3. Using the acceleration provided by k-t SENSE to improve spatial resolution yields high image quality and reduces image artifacts compared with perfusion MR at lower resolution. Implications for patient care 1. The combination of k-t SENSE acceleration with acquisition at high field strength offers a promising tool for improved detection of coronary artery stenosis by perfusion MR imaging. Europe PMC Funders Group Author Manuscript Radiology. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2008 November 25. Published in final edited form as: Radiology. 2008 November ; 249(2): 493–500. doi:10.1148/radiol.2492080017. E uope PM C Fuders A uhor M ancripts E uope PM C Fuders A uhor M ancripts Conclusions—k-t SENSE accelerated high-resolution perfusion MR at 3.0 Tesla is feasible with similar artifacts and diagnostic accuracy as at 1.5 Tesla. Compared with standard-resolution perfusion MR, image quality is improved and artifacts are reduced.