Table 1 Respiratory Triggered 3-D Cine SSFP Technique and Grading Methodology

Hardware

Phillips Achieva 1.5T magnet; 5-channel phased array coil; Max. parallel acceleration: 2 (2D); 2X1.5 (3D)

Acquisition Parameters

Axial or sagittal acquisition; respiratory triggered, retrospective EKG gated, TR/TE/α = 3/1.5/60; voxel size 1.5-2.5; SENSE 2.6-3.6; mean temporal resolution = 35 ms

Imaging Targets & Grading Methodology

Quantitative LV volumetry (3D vs 2D cine SSFP):

LVEDV, LVESV, LVEF

Vessel Measurements (3D cine SSFP vs 2D cine SSFP and Gd-3D MRA):

Maximal intersinus aortic root, ascending aorta, aortic isthmus, MPA and LPA diameter

Cardiac Morphology Qualitative scoring (3D vs 2D cine SSFP):

Atrial morphology/ function (0-8): Edge definition (0-2), Blood myocardial contrast (0-2), Atrial septum (0-2), Crista terminalis (0-2),

Aortic valve morphology/ function (0-8): Annulus (0-2), Number of leaflets (0-2), Valve motion (0-2), Valve coaptation (0-2)

Tricuspid valve morphology/ function (0-10): Annulus (0-2), Number of leaflets (0-2), Valve motion (0-2), Valve coaptation (0-2), Suspensory apparatus (0-2)

Left Ventricular morphology (0-15): Edge definition (0-5), Blood myocardial contrast (0-5), Interslice alignment (0-5)

Extra-cardiac Vasculature Qualitative Scoring (3D cine SSFP vs Gd-3D MRA):

Aorta (0-8): Edge definition (0-2), Blood pool homogeneity (0-2), First order branches (0-2), Second order branches (0-2)

Pulmonary arteries (0-10): Edge definition (0-2), Blood pool homogeneity (0-2), First order branches (0-2), Second order branches (0-2), Arteriovenous separation (0-2)

Pulmonary veins (0-10): Edge definition (0-2), Blood pool homogeneity (0-2), First order branches (0-2), Second order branches (0-2), Arteriovenous separation (0-2)

SVC/ Azygous vein (0-8): Edge definition (0-2), Blood pool homogeneity (0-2), First order branches (0-2), Second order branches (0-2)