Key result
Fetal 3D radial cine MRI acquisition yielded moderate diagnostic quality (median score 3) and a 6-minute scan time, though it was only successful in 27% of subjects compared to standard 2D imaging.
Why the study?
To explore fetal 3D cardiovascular cine acquisition using radial sampling and compressed sensing, comparing image quality and scan time with conventional multislice 2D imaging.
Does fetal 3D cardiovascular cine acquisition using radial sampling and compressed sensing improve image quality and reduce scan time compared to conventional multislice 2D imaging in fetal cardiac imaging?
Cross-Sectional (n=26)
Does fetal 3D cardiovascular cine acquisition using radial sampling and compressed sensing improve image quality and reduce scan time compared to conventional multislice 2D imaging in fetal cardiac imaging?
p-value: p=> 0.16
Fetal 3D radial cine MRI enables retrospective visualization of all cardiac views with short examination times and diagnostic quality, though with lower success rates and perceived resolution than standard 2D imaging.
May enable faster volumetric fetal cine MRI; leaves open diagnostic superiority over 2D before prospective clinical adoption.
PURPOSE: To explore a fetal 3D cardiovascular cine acquisition using a radial image acquisition and compressed-sensing reconstruction and compare image quality and scan time with conventional multislice 2D imaging. METHODS: Volumetric fetal cardiac data were acquired in 26 volunteers using a radial 3D balanced SSFP pulse sequence. Cardiac gating was performed using a Doppler ultrasound device. Images were reconstructed using a parallel-imaging and compressed-sensing algorithm. Multiplanar reformatting to standard cardiac views was performed before image analysis. Clinical 2D images were used for comparison. Qualitative and quantitative image evaluation were performed by two experienced observers (scale: 1-4). Volumes, mass, and function were assessed. RESULTS: Average scan time for the 3D imaging was 6 min, including one localizer. A 2D imaging stack covering the entire heart including localizer sequences took at least 6.5 min, depending on planning complexity. The 3D acquisition was successful in 7 of 26 subjects (27%). Overall image contrast and perceived resolution were lower in the 3D images. Nonetheless, the 3D images had, on average, a moderate cardiac diagnostic quality (median [range]: 3 [1-4]). Standard clinical 2D acquisitions had a high cardiac diagnostic quality (median [range]: 4 [3, 4]). Cardiac measurements were not different between 2D and 3D images (all p > 0.16). CONCLUSION: The presented free-breathing whole-heart fetal 3D radial cine MRI acquisition and reconstruction method enables retrospective visualization of all cardiac views while keeping examination times short. This proof-of-concept work produced images with diagnostic quality, while at the same time reducing the planning complexity to a single localizer.
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Piek et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in fetal cardiovascular imaging (n=26). fetal 3D cardiovascular cine acquisition using radial sampling and compressed sensing vs. conventional multislice 2D imaging was evaluated on image quality, scan time, and cardiac measurements (p=> 0.16). Fetal 3D radial cine MRI acquisition yielded moderate diagnostic quality (median score 3) and a 6-minute scan time, though it was only successful in 27% of subjects compared to standard 2D imaging.
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