PURPOSE: Of the myocardial T(1) mapping techniques, the modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence is accurate and highly reproducible. The MOLLI sequence requires patients to hold their breath for 17 heartbeats during the scanning process to minimize respiratory motion-related artifacts. However, some patients are unable to hold their breath because of illness or limited breath-hold capacity. This study, therefore, aimed to develop a robust myocardial T(1) mapping method based on the MOLLI sequence for patients unable to perform voluntary breath-holds. METHODS: This study presents a free-breathing MOLLI (FB-MOLLI) sequence and an optimized reconstruction method to allow myocardial T(1) mapping in vivo without breath-hold. Nine healthy volunteers participated in this study after providing institutionally approved consent. The FB-MOLLI sequence acquires 20 images within 29 heartbeats. The reconstruction program employs a two-step automatic image registration technique and an image selection method inspired by the self-gating cardiac imaging method. RESULTS: Results indicate that the proposed reconstruction method increases the accuracy and reproducibility of free-breathing T(1) measurements significantly (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The FB-MOLLI method provides a robust tool for clinical application in free-breathing myocardial T(1) mapping, and could greatly facilitate acquisition procedures during routine examinations.
PURPOSE: Of the myocardial T(1) mapping techniques, the modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence is accurate and highly reproducible. The MOLLI sequence requires patients to hold their breath for 17 heartbeats during the scanning process to minimize respiratory motion-related artifacts. However, some patients are unable to hold their breath because of illness or limited breath-hold capacity. This study, therefore, aimed to develop a robust myocardial T(1) mapping method based on the MOLLI sequence for patients unable to perform voluntary breath-holds. METHODS: This study presents a free-breathing MOLLI (FB-MOLLI) sequence and an optimized reconstruction method to allow myocardial T(1) mapping in vivo without breath-hold. Nine healthy volunteers participated in this study after providing institutionally approved consent. The FB-MOLLI sequence acquires 20 images within 29 heartbeats. The reconstruction program employs a two-step automatic image registration technique and an image selection method inspired by the self-gating cardiac imaging method. RESULTS: Results indicate that the proposed reconstruction method increases the accuracy and reproducibility of free-breathing T(1) measurements significantly (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The FB-MOLLI method provides a robust tool for clinical application in free-breathing myocardial T(1) mapping, and could greatly facilitate acquisition procedures during routine examinations.
Authors: Sebastian Weingärtner; Steen Moeller; Sebastian Schmitter; Edward Auerbach; Peter Kellman; Chetan Shenoy; Mehmet Akçakaya Journal: Magn Reson Med Date: 2017-06-05 Impact factor: 4.668
Authors: Yeon Jin Cho; Woo Sun Kim; Young Hun Choi; Seul Bi Lee; SeungHyun Lee; Jung-Eun Cheon; MunYoung Paek; SeungTae Woo Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2020-10-27 Impact factor: 4.379