Cardiac Application Tips

Special Considerations

Post-Processing Tools

1. MIP/MPR/volume rendering of Gd-MRA.
2. Ventricular function: calculating ejection fractions, stroke volumes from cine-GRE.




LV volume = (A1 x Z) + (A2 x Z) + … An = cross sectional area of slice n Z = slice thickness If z = 1 cm, then LV volume = A1+A2+A3+… EDV (end diastolic volume)      sum all short axes at max ESV (end systolic volume)       sum short axes at minimum SV (stroke volume) = EDV - ESV EF (ejection fraction) =      (EDV - ESV)/EDV = SV/EDV




3. Flow quantification from velocity-encoded phase contrast GRE.
4. Wall motion abnormalities: thickening, stress/strain maps, velocity maps.
5. Perfusion: analysis of enhancement profiles.

Pitfalls

1. Right atrial pseudomass: protrusion along posterior wall of right atrium between SVC and IVC, caused by normal structures such as Eustachian valve, Chiari network. DDX: mass or thrombus.
2. Metallic artifacts.
3. Pseudo-subclavian stenosis on Gd-MRA of thoracic aorta.
4. Inaccurate timing.
5. Poor ECG-gating.