LGE Imaging in Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices at 3T: Comparison of Dixon Fat-Water Separation and Fat Suppression

Motivation: Assessment of myocardial fibrosis with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is crucial for patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED), but imaging quality at 3T is often limited by device-induced artifacts and poor fat suppression. Goal(s): To develop and evaluate a Dixon-based LGE sequence for scar imaging in CIED patients at 3T. Approach: We compared dual-echo Dixon with fat-suppressed LGE in a phantom and twelve patients with CIEDs at 3T. Images were rated on artifact presence and quality of fat suppression. Results: Dixon fat-water separation improved fat suppression in LGE imaging at 3T in patients with CIED. Impact: This study demonstrates that high-quality LGE images can be obtained in patients with CIED at 3T using a high-bandwidth dual-echo Dixon LGE sequence, which provides better fat suppression than conventional spectral fat saturation.