Myocardial T1 and T2 mappings with automatic motion correction at 3 Tesla MR: comparison of T1 and T2 measurements by breathhold, free-breathing and cardiac cycle

Abstract

Background T1 and T2 mappings are novel quantitative methods to assess microscopic changes in the myocardium. The aim of this study was to assess differences in myocardial T1 and T2 measurements with automatic motion correction according to breathhold, free-breathing and cardiac cycle. Methods Myocardial T1 and T2 mapping at 3 Tesla MR was obtained from 24 healthy volunteers (16 males and 8 females, mean age, 31±4 years). Shortened modified look-locker inversion recovery was used for T1 mapping and T2-prepared single-shot steady-state free precession was utilized for T2 mapping. Automatic motion correction was done by an elastic registration algorithm based on estimating motion-free synthetic images. For each patient, T1 and T2 mapping were performed consecutively at three short-axis levels in mid-diastole during breathhold (BH), in mid-diastole during free-breathing (FB), and in end-systole during breathhold (SYS-BH). T1 and T2 values were measured in six segments per each level. Mean and standard deviation of slice-averaged myocardial T1 and T2 values were compared between BH, FB and SYS-BH. Results Mean slice-averaged myocardial T1 and T2 values displayed good agreement between BH, FB and SYS-BH (T1 values, 1127 vs. 1146 vs. 1123; T2 values, 41 vs. 42 vs. 41). Standard deviation of T1 measurements was significantly different between BH and SYS-BH (p=0.006) and between FB and SYS-BH (p<0.000) but no significant difference was found between BH and FB (p=0.753). Standard deviation of T2 measurements was not statistically different between BH, FB and SYS-BH (p=0.068). Standard deviation of T1 and T2 measurements was lowest in SYS-BH followed by BH and FB. Conclusions Automatic motion correction was effective for both myocardial T1 and T2 quantification. Mean slice-averaged T1 and T2 relaxation times were not different according to breathhold, free-breathing and cardiac cycle. Standard deviation of T1 measurements was significantly reduced in SYS-BH. Variability of myocardial T1 and T2 quantification may be reduced by obtaining in end-systole during breathhold, particularly for T1 mapping. Funding No financial support. Table 1 Comparison of T1 and T2 measurements Mean p value BH FB SYS-BH T1 values 1127 1146 1123 0.121 T2 values 41 42 41 0.331 Standard deviation (SD) p value BH FB SYS-BH T1 values 29.5 33.1 19.6 0.000 T2 values 2.3 2.7 1.9 0.068 BH, in mid-diastole during breathhold; FB, in mid-diastole during free-breathing; SYS-BH, in end-systole during breathhold