Age-gender reference values of native myocardial T1 at 1.5T and 3T: comparison of MOLLI and shMOLLI

Background

Native T1 mapping is promising non-invasive method for quantitative assessment of diffuse myocardial processes. The aim of the current study was to interrogate normal values for T1 measurement within native myocardium for age and gender using most commonly used sequences and field strengths.

Methods

Ninety-nine subjects with no history of cardiovascular or systemic disease or regular medication underwent native T1 imaging with modified (MOLLI; 3,3,5) and shortened modified look-locker inversion recovery sequence (shMOLLI; 1,1,5) at either 1.5T or 3T. The images were analyzed using an Osirix plug-in with manual motion correction of the ROI placed conservatively within the septal myocardium. For comparison, lateral myocardium and blood values were also derived.

Results

There was similar representation for age and gender across both field strengths (Table 1). Mean value for T1 native myocardial by MOLLI was higher than shMOLLI for septum and lateral ROI for both field strengths, p<0.01 for all). There was no significant difference for gender nor age-groups in T1 relaxation time for either MOLLI or shMOLLI imaging at either field strength.

Table 1

Conclusions

We report age-gender normal values for native myocardial T1 mapping by the two most commonly used sequences and field strenghts. We show that there are neither gender differences in a cohort as a whole nor within separate age groups.

Funding

NIHR

Figure 1

T1 source images (A-K) as well as the T1 map (L) acquired in mid-ventricular short-axis slice. ROI placements within septum, lateral wall and blood pool (green marks). Image M shows the analyzed septal T1 relaxation time (red arrow).