Myocardial perfusion artifacts

Myocardial
Perfusion
Artifacts


Myocardial Perfusion Artifacts
Dark Rim Along Endocardial Border
From Systolic Motion

Reference: Storey, P. et al, MRM 48:1028-1036, 2002


Myocardial Perfusion Artifacts

Early

• Dark rim is
exaggerated
during systole
due to motion.
• Dark rim is
exaggerated
during early
maximal blush
because of
increased
susceptibility.

Late

Increasing Contrast Washout Time

Dark Rim Along Endocardial Border

Systole

Diastole

Increasing Cardiac Phases


Myocardial Perfusion Artifacts
Dark Rim Artifact in Phase-Encoding Direction
Reference: Univ Minn, Jerosh-Herold, M., et al

Increasing Contrast Washout Time

PE

PE
Early

PE

PE

PE

PE

PE

PE

All images at
TT = 255ms,
RR ~ 800ms

Late

•Phase-encoding direction typically has lower resolution than readout direction
•Lower resolution leads to stronger Gibbs ringing artifacts
•Lower resolution leads to more intravoxel dephasing due to susceptibility


Myocardial Perfusion Artifacts
Without Rotated FOV, iPAT Artifacts May Cause
False Perfusion Defects in Postero-Lateral Wall

Without Rotated FOV

With Rotated FOV


Myocardial Perfusion Artifacts
Inadquate RF Spoiling
appears as little dancing
dark lines in septal and
antero-lateral walls

To avoid RF Spoiling Artifacts:

• Use RF spoiling ON
• Use low Flip (10-12 deg)

Reference: Crawley, A.P. et al,
MRM Nov 8 (3) 248-260, 1988


Perfusion Quality Control
Is the bolus tight enough?

Good Bolus
• Strong bloodpool blush
• Quick bloodpool washout
• Discernable 2nd Pass

Bad Bolus:
• Leaky IV or low njection rate
• High cardiac output
• Pulmonary disease
• Intracardiac shunt


Perfusion Quality Control
Is the bolus tight enough?

Good Bolus:
• Mean Curve ROI in LV
• Peaks in 5-10 sec
• Recirculation

Bad Bolus:
• Mean Curve ROI in LV
• Peaks in 20-30 sec
• No recirculation