Introduction:
Wideband late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) CMR is capable of suppressing image artifacts induced by cardiac implanted electronic devices (CIEDs). We implemented our own wideband segmented (seg) breath-hold and wideband single-shot (SS) free-breathing LGE pulse sequences and used them clinically since 2016. The purpose of this study was to evaluate image quality and CMR safety of wideband LGE compared to standard LGE.
Methods:
We retrospectively identified 54 consecutive patients (mean age: 61±15 years; 31% females) with CIED (33 t-ICD, 4 s-ICD, 15 pacemaker, 1 CRT-D, 1 CRT-P) who underwent CMR at 1.5T (Avanto, Siemens). Standard seg, wideband seg, and wideband SS LGE used standard imaging parameters. 16 myocardial segments were scored for scar/myocardial conspicuity and presence of any visual artifact on a 5-point Likert scale (1:worst; 3:acceptable; 5:best). Distance between center of the heart and CIED (CXR D) was measured on chest X-ray. Whole-body specific absorption rate (SAR) was read from DICOM metadata. Device changes were calculated from pre- and post- device interrogation measurements.
Results:
Both wideband seg and SS LGE consistently produced better image quality than standard LGE (Figure 1A). Median conspicuity and artifact scores were significantly better for wideband seg (F=20.6, p<0.001) and wideband SS (F=24.2, p<0.001) LGE compared to standard LGE. There was a trend in conspicuity and artifact scores with CIED distance for standard LGE (rho=0.476, p=0.02), but not wideband LGE scans (Figure 1B, 1C). Whole-body SAR averaged for both wideband scans (0.15±0.04 W/kg) was one order of magnitude below the 2.0 W/kg FDA limit. Device parameters (sensing, impedance, threshold, battery level) did not differ before and after CMR including wideband LGE.
Conclusions:
Both wideband seg and SS LGE scans produced improved image quality compared to standard LGE while maintaining CMR safety. *The first two authors (SS and AP) contributed equally
Comparison of PET image quality using simultaneous PET/MR by attenuation correction with various MR pulse sequences
