Cardiac abnormalities: assessment with T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR imaging with electrocardiogram gating at 0.5 T.

Abstract

To evaluate the cardiovascular system with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performed with the turbo spin-echo (TSE) method and electrocardiogram (ECG) gating. ECG-gated T2-weighted TSE images were obtained in 52 patients with 68 pathologic conditions (intracardiac [n = 18], myocardial [n = 23], pericardial [n = 6], paracardial [n = 10], or aortic [n = 11] disease) and 10 healthy subjects. In healthy subjects, TSE parameters were tested and optimized, and signal-to-noise ratios (S/Ns) and contrast-to-noise ratios (C/Ns) were determined. Delineation of the endo-, epi-, and pericardial borders and signal intensity characteristics of myocardium, fat, pericardium, blood flow, tumors, and clots were assessed. The TSE method provided good-quality T2-weighted images with sharp edge definition in a short imaging time. Increasing the turbo factor reduced motion artifacts and preserved the S/N and C/N. TSE images also helped in diagnosis of tumors, pleural effusions, inflammatory changes, and intravascular clots. TSE MR imaging is a feasible alternative to time-consuming conventional SE MR imaging, reduces motion artifact, and may help in evaluation of the cardiovascular system.