Free-breathing motion-corrected cardiac cine and late gadolinium enhancement MRI: feasibility and validation in clinical practice

Motivation: To address the challenges posed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for patients who are unable to hold their breath, efforts are being made to develop techniques that allow for free-breathing. Goal(s): Compare accuracy of free breathing(FB) motion-corrected (MC) cine and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) sequences with breath-hold (BH) for cardiac function and fibrosis assessment. Approach: A prospective study was conducted involving 216 patients who underwent both FB and BH MRI sequences. Results: FB imaging showed comparable image quality, shorter scan times, and no significant differences in functional parameters when compared to BH imaging. Impact: FB MoCo CMR provides a time-efficient and patient-friendly alternative, enhancing accessibility and comfort for cardiac patients, particularly those experiencing respiratory challenges.