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Abstract Purpose To assess the performance of gradient-spin echo (GraSE) based STIR (GraSE-STIR) sequence in CMR imaging compared to turbo spin echo based conventional STIR for myocardial visualization. Methods In a prospective study, we examined forty-four normal volunteers and seventeen patients referred for CMR imaging using a conventional STIR and GraSE-STIR techniques. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), image quality, T 2 signal intensity (SI) ratio, specific absorption rate (SAR), and image acquisition time were compared between both sequences. Results GraSE-STIR showed significant improvements in image quality (4.15 ± 0.8 vs. 3.34 ± 0.9, P = 0.024) and cardiac motion artifact reduction (7 vs. 18 out of 53, p = 0.038) compared to conventional STIR. Furthermore, the acquisition time (27.17 ± 3.53 vs. 36.9 ± 4.08 seconds, p = 0.041) and the local torso SAR (< % 13 vs. < % 17, p = 0.047) were significantly lower for GraSE-STIR compared to conventional STIR in short axis plan. However, no significant differences were shown in T 2 SI ratio (p = 0.141), SNR (p = 0.093), CNR (P = 0.068), and SAR (p = 0.071) between these two sequences. Conclusions GraSE-STIR offers notable advantages over conventional STIR sequence, with improved image quality, reduced motion artifacts, and shorter acquisition times. These findings highlight the potential of GraSE-STIR as a valuable technique for routine clinical CMR imaging.
Dehghani et al. (Wed,) studied this question.