OBJECTIVE: To test whether the method utilizing three-dimensional (3D) whole-heart MRI has an additional benefit over that utilizing conventional two-dimensional (2D) cine MRI in quantifying ventricular volumes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 110 patients with congenital heart disease, a navigator-gated, 3D whole-heart MRI during end-systole (ES) and end-diastole (ED), 2D short-axis cine MRI, and phase contrast MRI of the great arteries were acquired. Ventricular volumes were measured by using a 3D threshold-based segmentation for 3D whole-heart MRI and by using a simplified contouring for 2D cine MRI. The cardiac trigger delays of 3D whole-heart MRI were compared with those of a 2D cine MRI. The stroke volumes calculated from the ventricular volumes were compared with the arterial flow volumes, measured by phase contrast MRI. RESULTS: The ES and ED trigger delays of whole-heart MRI were significantly less than cine MRI for both the left ventricle (−16.8 ± 35.9 ms for ES, −59.0 ± 90.4 ms for ED; p < 0.001) and the right ventricle (−58.8 ± 30.6 ms for ES, −104.9 ± 92.7 ms for ED; p < 0.001). Compared with the arterial flow volumes, 2D cine MRI significantly overestimated the left ventricular stroke volumes (8.7 ± 8.9 mL, p < 0.001) and the 3D whole-heart MRI significantly underestimated the right ventricular stroke volumes (−22.7 ± 22.9 mL, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional whole-heart MRI is often subject to early timing of the ED phase, potentially leading to the underestimation of the right ventricular stroke volumes.
Arteries ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine* ; Methods ; Stroke Volume

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic value of dobutamine stress magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for myocardial viability.

METHODSTen male miniswines underwent left ventriculography and coronary angiography, followed by stenosis of the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) using ameroid constrictor. More than one month later, left ventriculography and coronary angiography were performed again, followed by cine-MRI at rest and during stress with incremental dose of dobutamine 5 - 20 micro g.kg(-1).min(-1). Traditional and/or breath-hold cine-MRI were used to evaluate regional left ventricular wall motion, corresponding to basal, midventricular and apical short-axis tomograms. Regional wall motion score index (WMSI) was calculated. The miniswines were finally sacrificed for pathological examination. Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) delineated myocardial infarction. Microscopy was used to identify myocardial cellular changes.

RESULTSOne pig died, one pig suffered from aneurysm and another showed no negative findings. The other seven pigs were found with hypokinetic (n = 4) or akinetic (n = 3) myocardial regions related to stenosed LCX. Their mean WMSI at rest for the lateral and posteroinferior walls (ischemic regions) of the left ventricle was 2.27 +/- 0.32, as compared with 1.00 +/- 0.00 (P < 0.01) for the corresponding nonischemic anteroseptal regions. Further, the mean WMSI for the ischemic regions was 2.27 +/- 0.32 at rest compared with 1.40 +/- 0.39 (P < 0.01) at the dose of dobutamine 5 micro g.kg(-1).min(-1). However, the mean WMSI at the doses of dobutamine 10 and 20 micro g.kg(-1). min(-1) were 1.70 +/- 0.76 and 1.75 +/- 0.83, respectively, with no significant difference as compared with the mean WSCI at rest (P > 0.05). The pathologic examination showed viable myocardium at the ischemic regions.

CONCLUSIONLow-dose dobutamine (5 micro g.kg(-1).min(-1)) recovers hypokinetic or akinetic myocardial regions, and dobutamine stress MRI can be used to detect myocardial viability.

Animals ; Dobutamine ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine ; methods ; Male ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Ventricular Function, Left

The value of combined application of both ECG-gated cine MRA and 3D-CEMRA in the detection of large intracranial aneurysms was evaluated and the findings were compared with those of conventional MRA and DSA. Twenty-four patients with 26 large intracranial aneurysms underwent MRI and DSA. All these aneurysms, diameter from 15 to 39 mm, were located at internal cerebral artery (n=12), vertebral artery (n=3), basilar artery (n=4), anterior cerebral artery (n=2), middle cerebral artery (n=2), anterior communicate artery (n=2) and posterior communicate artery (n=1). Thirteen cases of hematoma or cavernoma were studied as control group. All patients were examined on GE 1.5T MR system. ECG-gated cine MRA was performed with 2D multi-phase fast gradient-recalled echo sequence in a single section. All the images were analyzed with signal intensity VS time curve for differentiating intraaneurysmal blood flow from static tissue. The results were analyzed by statistic "t" test. 3D-CEMRA was performed with spoiled gradient-recalled echo and one dose of Gd-DTPA. All data was processed with multi-plannar reformat (MPR) and tomography for the demonstration of aneurysms in detail. All 26 aneurysms were demonstrated successfully by combined application of both cine MRA and 3D-CEMRA. Compared to DSA and conventional 3D-MOTSA, its sensitivity and specificity figures were both 100%. Cine MRA could differentiate the blood flow from the static tissue. The intensity VS time curves of intraaneurysmal blood flow offered fluctuating form and average signal change between systole and diastole period was about 89.8 +/- 37.4; However, under the control group, intraaneurysmal thrombus or cerebral hemorrhage or cavernomas had no significant signal change and the curves offered steady form with the average signal change being about 8.2 +/- 6.3. There was statistically significant difference between the intraaneurysmal blood flow and static tissue (P=0.025, <0.05). 3D-CEMRA was very useful in demonstrating the aneurysmal size, intraaneurysmal thrombus formation, neck and the detailed relationship of the aneurysm to the surrounding structures. It was concluded that the combined application of both cine MRA and 3D-CEMRA might be a valuable clinical tool for the detection of large intracranial aneurysms.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Contrast Media ; Evaluation Studies ; Image Enhancement ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods ; Intracranial Aneurysm/*diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography/*methods ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine

OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively assess cardiac functions in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using cardiac magnetic resonance-feature tracking (CMR-FT) technique and evaluate the prognostic value of CMR-FT in patients with CA. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the data from 31 CA patients with systemic amyloidosis confirmed by Congo red staining and serum immunohistochemistry after extracardiac tissue biopsy undergoing CMR at our hospital from March, 2013 to June, 2021.Thirty-one age and gender matched patients with asymmetric left ventricular wall hypertrophy and 31 healthy individuals without organic or functional heart disease served as the controls.Radial, circumferential and longitudinal strains and strain rates of the left ventricle at the global level and in each myocardial segment (basal, middle and apical) were obtained with CMR-FT technique and compared among the 3 groups.The predictive value of myocardial strains and strain rates for all-cause mortality in CA patients was analyzed using a stepwise COX regression model. RESULTS: The left ventricular volume, myocardial mass, ejection fraction and cardiac output differed significantly among the groups (P < 0.05).Except for apical longitudinal strain, the global and segmental strains were all significantly lower in CA group than in HCM group (P < 0.05).The global and segmental strains were all significantly lower in CA group than in the healthy individuals (P < 0.05).The basal strain rates in the 3 directions were significantly lower in CA group than in the healthy individuals (P < 0.05), but the difference in apical strain rates was not statistically significant between the two groups.Multivariate stepwise COX analysis showed that troponin T (HR=1.05, 95%CI: 1.01-1.10, P=0.017) and middle peak diastolic circumferential strain rate (HR=6.87, 95%CI: 1.52-31.06, P=0.012) were strong predictors of death in CA patients. CONCLUSION Strain and strain rate parameters derived from CMR-FT based on cine sequences are new noninvasive imaging markers for assessing cardiac impairment in CA and cardiac function changes in HCM, and provide independent predictive information for all-cause mortality in CA patients.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine/methods* ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/diagnostic imaging* ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Stroke Volume ; Amyloidosis/diagnostic imaging* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Prognosis ; Predictive Value of Tests

Objective To quantitatively evaluate the associations of infarct size, regional myocardial function examined by cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) strain analysis with infarct location in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention.Methods Cardiac magnetic resonance images were retrospectively analyzed in 95 consecutive STEMI patients with successful reperfusion. The patients were divided into the anterior wall myocardial infarction (AWMI) and nonanterior wall myocardial infarction (NAWMI) groups. Infarct characteristics were assessed by late gadolinium enhancement. Global and regional strains and associated strain rates in the radial, circumferential and longitudinal directions were assessed by CMR-FT based on standard cine images. The associations of infarct size, regional myocardial function examined by CMR-FT strain analysis with infarct location in STEMI patients were evaluated by the Spearman or Pearsonmethod. Results There were 44 patients in the AWMI group and 51 in the NAWMI group. The extent of left ventricular enhanced mass was significantly larger in patients with AWMI compared with the NAWMI group (24.47±11.89, 21.06±12.08 %LV; t=3.928, P = 0.008). In infarct zone analysis, strains in the radial, circumferential and longitudinal directions were remarkably declined in the AWMI group compared with the NAWMI group (z=-20.873, -20.918, -10.357, all P < 0.001). The volume (end-systolic volume index), total enhanced mass and extent of enhanced mass of the left ventricular were correlated best with infarct zone strain in the AWMI group (all P < 0.001). Conclusion In STEMI patients treated by percutaneous coronary intervention, myocardial damage is more extensive and regional myocardial function in the infarct zone is lower in the AWMI group compared with the NAWMI group.
Humans ; Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction/therapy* ; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction/pathology* ; Contrast Media ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine/methods* ; Gadolinium ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myocardial Infarction/diagnostic imaging* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Stroke Volume

In patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), risk stratification for sudden cardiac death (SCD) and selection of patients who would benefit from prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators remains challenging. We aim to discuss the evidence of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived myocardial scar for the prediction of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in NICM. From the 15 studies analyzed, with a total of 2747 patients, the average prevalence of myocardial scar was 41%. In patients with myocardial scar, the risk for adverse cardiac events was more than 3-fold higher, and risk for arrhythmic events 5-fold higher, as compared to patients without scar. Based on the available observational, single center studies, CMR scar assessment may be a promising new tool for SCD risk stratification, which merits further investigation.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac/*diagnosis ; Cardiomyopathies/*diagnosis ; Cicatrix/*diagnosis ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Defibrillators, Implantable ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine/*methods ; Myocardium/pathology ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) sequence in assessing the cardiac structure and function.

METHODSA total of 36 healthy volunteers were examined with fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition cine MR sequence. All the MR images were processed on Report Card software to test the cardiac dimensions and function. The relationships between the CMR results and the ultrasonic cardiography (UCG) results were analyzed.

RESULTSCMR analysis showed that interventricular septum thickness, left ventricle posterior wall thickness, end diastolic dimension of left ventricle, and end systolic dimension of left ventricle were (9.2 +/- 2.1), (8.0 +/- 2.1), (48.6 +/- 5.5), and (30.3 +/- 5.3) mm, respectively. Major dimension of right ventricle, minor dimension of right ventricle, index of major, dimension of right ventricle and index of minor dimension of right ventricle were (69.2 +/- 9.7), (30.6 +/- 6.6) mm, and (39.4 +/- 5.5), (18.1 +/- 3.4) min/m2, respectively. The left ventricle indicators above measured by CMR correlated with those by UCG (r = 0.843, 0.784, 0.686, 0.730, all P < 0.01). CMR analysis showed that left ventricular end diastolic volume, right ventricular end diastolic volume, left ventricular end systolic volume, and right ventricular end systolic volume were (93.6 +/- 17.2), (108.6 +/- 28.2), (39.5 +/- 13.0), and (45.6 +/- 15.1) ml, respectively. The left ventricular ejection fraction and right ventricular ejection fraction were (58.5 +/- 8.19)% and (58.2 +/- 7.4)% , respectively. Left ventricular ejection fraction measured by CMR was correlated with that (64.1 +/- 6.8)% by UCG (r = 0.75, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCMR sequence with standard location is well applicable for accurate measurement of left and right ventricle dimensions and function, especially for right ventricle. CMR can be used to diagnose the heart disease and monitor the efficacy.

Adult ; Aged ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of T2 mapping in the assessment of myocardial changes and prognosis in patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted. A total of 30 patients with acute STEMI admitted to Tianjin First Central Hospital from January 2021 to March 2022 were enrolled as the experimental group. At the same time, 30 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers and outpatients with non-specific chest pain with no abnormalities in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) examination were selected as the control group. CMR was performed within 2 weeks after the diagnosis of STEMI, as the initial reference. A plain CMR review was performed 6 months later (chronic myocardial infarction, CMI). Plain scanning includes film sequence (CINE), T2 weighted short tau inversion recovery (T2-STIR), native-T1 mapping, and T2 mapping. Enhanced scanning includes first-pass perfusion, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and post-contrast T1 mapping. Quantitative myocardial parameters were compared between the two groups, before and after STEMI myocardial infarction. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of native-T1 before myocardial contrast enhancement and T2 values in differentiating STEMI and CMI after 6 months. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in age, gender, heart rate and body mass index (BMI) between the two groups, which were comparable. The native-T1 value, T2 value and extracellular volume (ECV) were significantly higher than those in the control group [native-T1 value (ms): 1 434.5±165.3 vs. 1 237.0±102.5, T2 value (ms): 48.3±15.6 vs. 21.8±13.1, ECV: (39.6±13.8)% vs. (22.8±5.0)%, all P < 0.05]. In the experimental group, 12 patients were re-examined by plain CMR scan 6 months later. After 6 months, the high signal intensity on T2-STIR was still visible, but the range was smaller than that in the acute phase, and the native-T1 and T2 values were significantly lower than those in the acute phase [native-T1 value (ms): 1 271.0±26.9 vs. 1 434.5±165.3, T2 value (ms): 34.2±11.2 vs. 48.3±15.6, both P < 0.05]. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of native-T1 and T2 values in differentiating acute STEMI from CMI was 0.71 and 0.80, respectively. When native-T1 cut-off value was 1 316.0 ms, the specificity was 100% and the sensitivity was 53.3%; when T2 cut-off value was 46.7 ms, the specificity was 100% and the sensitivity was 73.8%. CONCLUSIONS The T2 mapping is a non-invasive method for the diagnosis of myocardial changes in patients with acute STEMI myocardial infarction, and can be used to to evaluate the clinical prognosis of patients.
Humans ; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis* ; Contrast Media ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine/methods* ; Gadolinium ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Predictive Value of Tests

The value of combined application of both ECG-gated cine MRA and 3D-CEMRA in the detection of large intracranial aneurysms was evaluated and the findings were compared with those of conventional MRA and DSA. Twenty-four patients with 26 large intracranial aneurysms underwent MRI and DSA. All these aneurysms, diameter from 15 to 39 mm, were located at internal cerebral artery (n=12), vertebral artery (n=3), basilar artery (n=4), anterior cerebral artery (n=2), middle cerebral artery (n=2), anterior communicate artery (n=2) and posterior communicate artery (n=1). Thirteen cases of hematoma or cavernoma were studied as control group. All patients were examined on GE 1.5T MR system. ECG-gated cine MRA was performed with 2D multi-phase fast gradient-recalled echo sequence in a single section. All the images were analyzed with signal intensity VS time curve for differentiating intraaneurysmal blood flow from static tissue. The results were analyzed by statistic "t" test. 3D-CEMRA was performed with spoiled gradient-recalled echo and one dose of Gd-DTPA. All data was processed with multi-plannar reformat (MPR) and tomography for the demonstration of aneurysms in detail. All 26 aneurysms were demonstrated successfully by combined application of both cine MRA and 3D-CEMRA. Compared to DSA and conventional 3D-MOTSA, its sensitivity and specificity figures were both 100%. Cine MRA could differentiate the blood flow from the static tissue. The intensity VS time curves of intraaneurysmal blood flow offered fluctuating form and average signal change between systole and diastole period was about 89.8 +/- 37.4; However, under the control group, intraaneurysmal thrombus or cerebral hemorrhage or cavernomas had no significant signal change and the curves offered steady form with the average signal change being about 8.2 +/- 6.3. There was statistically significant difference between the intraaneurysmal blood flow and static tissue (P=0.025, <0.05). 3D-CEMRA was very useful in demonstrating the aneurysmal size, intraaneurysmal thrombus formation, neck and the detailed relationship of the aneurysm to the surrounding structures. It was concluded that the combined application of both cine MRA and 3D-CEMRA might be a valuable clinical tool for the detection of large intracranial aneurysms.
Adult ; Aged ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Contrast Media ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Female ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine ; Male ; Middle Aged

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate whether the signal intensity (SI) of myocardial infarction (MI) on contrast enhanced (CE)-cine MRI is useful for differentiating recently infarcted myocardium from chronic scar. This study included 24 patients with acute MI (36-84 years, mean age: 57) and 19 patients with chronic MI (44-80 years, mean age: 64). The diagnosis of acute MI was based on the presence of typical symptoms, i.e. elevation of the cardiac enzymes and the absence of any remote infarction history. The diagnosis of chronic MI was based on a history of MI or coronary artery disease of more than one month duration and on the absence of any recent MI within the previous six months. Retrospectively, the ECG-gated breath-hold cine imaging was performed in the short axis plane using a segmented, balanced, turbo-field, echo-pulse sequence two minutes after the administration of Gd-DTPA at a dose of 0.2 mmol/kg body weight. Delayed contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE MRI) in the same plane was performed 10 to 15 minutes after contrast administration, and this was served as the gold standard of reference. The SI of the infarcted myocardium on the CE-cine MRI was compared with that of the normal myocardium on the same image. The area of abnormal SI on the CE-cine MRI was compared with the area of hyperenhancement on the DCE MRI. The area of high SI on the CE-cine MRI was detected in 23 of 24 patients with acute MI (10 with homogenous high SI, 13 high SI with subendocardial low SI, and one with iso SI). The area of high SI on the CE-cine MRI was larger than that seen on the DCE MRI (p < 0.05). In contrast, the areas of chronic MI were seen as iso-SI with thin subendocardial low SI on the CE-cine MR in all the chronic MI patients. The presence of high SI on both the CE-cine MRI and the DCE MRI is more sensitive (95.8%) for determining the age of a MI than the presence of myocardial thinning (66.7%). This study showed the different SI patterns between recently infarcted myocardium and chronic scar on the CE-cine MRI. CE-cine MRI is thought to be quite useful for determining the age of myocardial infarction, in addition to its utility for assessing myocardial contractility.
Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Retrospective Studies ; Myocardium/*pathology ; Myocardial Infarction/*diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Male ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods ; Humans ; Female ; Contrast Media ; Cicatrix/*diagnosis ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged ; Adult