MRI of heart morphology - Comparison of nongradient echo sequences with single- and multislice acquisition

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. A large variety of cardiac MRI sequences have been introduced for heart morphology evaluation. The aim of this study was to establish a practicable and robust examination protocol for standard high-field systems applying nongradient echo sequences with single- and multislice acquisition, METHODS. Fifty-one patients received electrocardiogram-gated MRI of the heart with "black-blood" preparation, comparing three single-slice and three multislice sequences with a T1-weighted turbo spin echo reference sequence. Demarcation of the left ventricular myocardium and cavity and the extent of flow and motion artifacts were assessed. RESULTS. The myocardium and left ventricular cavity were depicted hest with the single-slice T1- and T2-weighted turbo spin echo sequence. The nonbreath-hold multislice sequences produced marked artifacts and therefore mere of poor diagnostic value. The TIRM haste sequence was best suited for fat suppression. The T2-weighted breath-hold single-shot sequence with half-Fourier imaging proved to be most appropriate for multislice imaging. CONCLUSIONS. Sufficient depiction of heart morphology with comprehensive evaluation of signal changes can be achieved using nongradient spin echo and turbo spin echo sequences with breath-holding. For rational imaging of myocardial and heart chamber morphology, multislice and single-slice sequences should be combined.