Evaluation of 12-lead electrocardiogram at 0.55T for improved cardiac monitoring in magnetic resonance imaging

The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is a standard diagnostic tool for monitoring cardiac ischemia and heart rhythm during cardiac interventional procedures and stress testing. These procedures can benefit from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) information; however, the MRI scanner magnetic field leads to ECG distortion that limits ECG interpretation. This study evaluated the potential for improved ECG interpretation in a “low field” 0.55T MRI scanner. The 12-lead ECGs were recorded inside 0.55T, 1.5T, and 3T MRI scanners, as well as at scanner table “home” position in the fringe field and outside the scanner room (seven pigs). To assess interpretation of ischemic ECG changes in a 0.55T MRI scanner, ECGs were recorded before and after coronary artery occlusion (seven pigs). ECGs was also recorded for five healthy human volunteers in the 0.55T scanner. ECG error and variation were assessed over 2-minute recordings for ECG features relevant to clinical interpretation: the PR interval, QRS interval, J point, and ST segment. ECG error was lower at 0.55T compared to higher field scanners. Only at 0.55T table home position, did the error approach the guideline recommended 0.025 mV ceiling for ECG distortion (median 0.03 mV). At scanner isocenter, only in the 0.55T scanner did J point error fall within the 0.1 mV threshold for detecting myocardial ischemia (median 0.03 mV in pigs and 0.06 mV in healthy volunteers). Correlation of J point deviation inside versus outside the 0.55T scanner following coronary artery occlusion was excellent at scanner table home position (r2 = 0.97), and strong at scanner isocenter (r2 = 0.92). ECG distortion is improved in 0.55T compared to 1.5T and 3T MRI scanners. At scanner home position, ECG distortion at 0.55T is low enough that clinical interpretation appears feasible without need for more cumbersome patient repositioning. At 0.55T scanner isocenter, ST segment changes during coronary artery occlusion appear detectable but distortion is enough to obscure subtle ST segment changes that could be clinically relevant. Reduced ECG distortion in 0.55T scanners may simplify the problem of suppressing residual distortion by ECG cable positioning, averaging, and filtering and could reduce current restrictions on ECG monitoring during interventional MRI procedures.