Multislice first-pass cardiac perfusion MRI: Validation in a model of myocardial infarction

The purpose of this study was to validate a first‐pass MRI method for imaging myocardial perfusion with multislice coverage and relatively small analyzable regions of interest (ROIs). A fast gradient‐echo (FGRE) sequence with an echo‐train (ET) readout was used to achieve multislice coverage, and a high dose of a contrast agent (CA) was used to achieve a high signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). Dogs (N = 6) were studied 1 day after reperfused myocardial infarction, and fluorescent microspheres were used as a standard for perfusion. First‐pass MRI correlated well vs. microsphere flow, achieving mean R values of 0.87 (range = 0.82–0.93), 0.71 (range = 0.46–0.85), and 0.72 (range = 0.49–0.95) for subendocardial ROIs, transmural ROIs, and the endocardial‐epicardial ratio, respectively. Additionally, analysis of myocardial time‐intensity curves (TICs) indicated that 15.8 ± 6.6° sectors, corresponding to 260 μl of endocardium, can be analyzed (R2 > 0.95). Magn Reson Med 47:482–491, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.