Julia Aures (Würzburg / DE), Dr. Maxim Terekhov (Würzburg / DE), Dr. David Lohr (Würzburg / DE), Maya Bille (Würzburg / DE), Dr. Michael Hock (Würzburg / DE), Dr. Ibrahim Elabyad (Würzburg / DE), Dr. Florian Schnitter (Würzburg / DE), Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hofmann (Würzburg / DE), Prof. Dr. Dr. Wolfgang Rudolf Bauer (Würzburg / DE), Prof. Dr. Laura Schreiber (Würzburg / DE)
Abstract-Text (inkl. Referenzen und Bildunterschriften)
Introduction
7T cardiac MRI offers the possibility of improving spatial resolution and sensitivity of heart imaging. The T2* weighted (T2*w) contrast at 7T provides new options for visualization of tissue injury after myocardial infarction (MI). We present the results of a longitudinal 7T MRI study in large animals, investigating post-MI changes using T2*w contrast in two different approaches: T2*- maps and greyscale analysis of T2*w images.
Methods
Before and after MI induction in German Landrace Pigs (n = 7, approval by the Animal Welfare Committee), MRI scans were performed with the Magnetom™ "Terra" 7T MRI scanner (Siemens, Erlangen). T2*w images were acquired in a short axis-view contiguous stack using a mGRE sequence (TE = 1.1-14.6 ms). Image analysis was performed by generating T2* maps (Fig. 1c) and analyzing greyscale in regions of altered contrast in T2*w images (Fig. 1d).
Results
On the T2* maps of the myocardium, a significant shortening of the T2* time in the areas of presumably infarcted tissue is evident in MRI1 and 2 compared to the baseline scan (MRI0) (Fig. 2b). Analysis of greyscale in the T2*w images shows significant differences between areas with altered contrast in scans with MI (MRI1 and 2) and corresponding positions in MRI0 (Fig. 2c).
Conclusion
By using T2* contrast in 7T MRI, post-MI injury can be detected with both conventional T2* maps and greyscale intensity statistics from T2*w images, opening new possibilities for more detailed characterization of tissue changes after MI.
Acknowledgements
BMBF grants: 01EO1004, 01E1O1504