Single breath-hold 3D contrast-enhanced method for assessment of cardiac function

Cardiac MRI function measurements are typically performed using 2D sequences and require multiple breath-holds to image the entire heart. A single 3D acquisition using a T-1-shortening agent has many potential advantages over techniques that acquire multiple 2D images, including more consistent contrast and precise slice coverage. However, 3D techniques currently require much longer than a single breath-hold to complete. It has been shown that for MR angiography undersampled projection reconstruction can acquire much higher resolution per unit time than Fourier imaging with acceptable artifacts. By employing a gated, undersampled projection technique, high-resolution 3D multiphase volumes of the heart can be acquired in a single breath-hold. Short repetition times result in good myocardial suppression and a temporal aperture of 60 ms. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.