Myocardial first‐pass perfusion assessment using rotational long‐axis MRI

PURPOSE: To study a first-pass myocardial perfusion imaging method, such that long-axis imaging slices are obtained rotationally around the short-axis centroid of the left ventricular cavity, in order to improve myocardial coverage and better delineate the basal and apical myocardium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This rotational long-axis (RLA) method was examined in 12 volunteers and compared to the perfusion images from conventional parallel short-axis (PSA) acquisitions in terms of the contrast to noise ratio (CNR), relative signal upslope and myocardial coverage. Both RLA and PSA first-pass perfusion images were acquired on each volunteer with otherwise identical imaging parameters using the partial Fourier saturation recovery steady state gradient echo sequence with refocused magnetization (TrueFISP) technique. RESULTS: Compared to PSA, RLA perfusion images with identical imaging parameters on the same subject exhibit an average of near 30% improvement in total myocardial area imaged. In addition, true basal and apical myocardium was seen on RLA, but not on PSA. The mean CNR and relative upslope were similar between the two techniques. CONCLUSIONS: This RLA perfusion imaging scheme is superior to the conventional PSA approach in terms of extent myocardial coverage and delineation of basal and apical regions of the left ventricle.