Skip to main content
  • Meeting abstract
  • Open access
  • Published:

1084 A double-inversion radial FSE and GRASE methods for the evaluation of cardiac masses

Introduction

CMR can provide valuable information for the characterization of cardiac masses. Currently, however, the characterization of cardiac masses with CMR is based on the qualitative assessment of image contrast in T2-weighted, T1-weighted, or fat-suppressed images with or without the additional benefit of contrast media. Because the contrast in a CMR image is determined by MR-dependent tissue parameters, the quantitative measurement of these parameters should provide a more accurate approach for tissue characterization.

Recently we developed a radial double-inversion fast spin-echo (DIR-FSE) technique for the rapid evaluation of the T2 relaxation time (Altbach et al, Magn Reson Med 54:549, 2005; Echocardiography 24:316, 2007). High-resolution radial DIR-FSE data for T2 calculation are obtained in a breath hold making the technique attractive for routine clinical practice. The radial DIR gradient and spin-echo (GRASE) technique has also been proposed (Li et al, ISMRM 14:625, 2006). With the latter fat-water information is obtained in addition to T2.

Purpose

To demonstrate the utility of the radial DIR-FSE and DIR-GRASE techniques for characterizing cardiac masses.

Methods

The radial DIR-FSE and DIR-GRASE methods were implemented on a 1.5 T GE MRI scanner. Figures 1a–b show schematic diagrams of the methods. Radial DIR-FSE data were acquired with ETL = 16, 256 views, 256 readout points, BW = ± 32 kHz, TR = 1-2RR, NEX = 1. Radial DIR-GRASE data were acquired with ETL = 8, TR = 1RR, 192 views/echo, 256 readout points, BW = ± 64 kHz, NEX = 1. With these parameters data are acquired in one breath-hold per slice.

Figure 1
figure 1

Schematic diagrams for radial (A) FSE and (B) GRASE (for clarity only the echo collection period is shown). (C) Generation of TEelf (demonstrated here for TE1).

Radial DIR-FSE data are processed as follows. A high-resolution anatomical image is reconstructed from the full radial k-space data set. High-resolution images at various TEeff are generated from the same k-space data set by using data corresponding to a specific TE in the central part of k-space, up to the Nyquist radius (Fig. 1c). Radial data acquired at TE≠TEeff are incorporated in a progressive manner from the Nyquist point to the outer part of k-space. T2 maps were generated from the TEeff images.

The TEeff images from DIR-GRASE data are obtained (as shown in Fig. 1c) using only the echoes closer to the SE period (E0). In order to obtain lipid-water information each of the four echoes in the GRASE sequence (E1–4) are used to reconstruct four images with different phase shifts between fat and water. An iterative algorithm is used to obtain a lipid and a water image without the effects of field inhomogeneities (Reeder et al, Magn Reson Med 51:35, 2004).

Results

The anatomical images and T2 maps of four different cardiac masses obtained with radial DIR-FSE are shown in Fig. 2. Note that the T2 values for these masses are distinct. Data from a patient, referred to our study after being diagnosed with a malignant cardiac mass, are shown in Fig. 3. In this case data were acquired with the radial DIR-GRASE method. The T2 of this mass is similar to the T2 of adipose tissue in the chest and the fat and water images clearly show that the mass is heavily lipid laden. These characteristics are not consistent with a malignant mass. They are consistent with the diagnosis of lipomatous hypertrophy of the inter-atrial septum (LHIAS).

Figure 2
figure 2

(Top) Anatomical images and (bottom) T2 maps of various cardiac masses obtained from radial DIR-FSE data.

Figure 3
figure 3

T2 map, lipid and water images obtained from radial DIR-GRASE data. The T2 of the mass (103 ± 13 ms) is similar to the T2 of adipose tissue in the chest (106 ± 11 ms). This is consistent with a lipid-laden mass as indicated in the lipid and water images.

Conclusion

We showed that radial FSE or GRASE methods can be used for the quantitative evaluation of cardiac masses. Data for T2 and lipid-water information are obtained in a breath hold thus providing a faster and efficient approach for characterizing these pathologies. In this study we only used T2 and lipid-water information for mass characterization. Radial GRASE data can be processed to estimate T2*, in addition to T2 and lipid-water information, thus providing an additional parameter for tissue characterization.

Acknowledgements

Work supported by NIH grants (CA099074, HL085385) and the AHA.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Altbach, M.I., Bilgin, A., Ata, I. et al. 1084 A double-inversion radial FSE and GRASE methods for the evaluation of cardiac masses. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 10 (Suppl 1), A209 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1186/1532-429X-10-S1-A209

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1532-429X-10-S1-A209

Keywords