The document provides guidance on performing various cardiac MRI sequences and views, including how to obtain basic views like the 2 chamber, 4 chamber, and short axis views. It also discusses considerations for special sequences like velocity encoded phase contrast imaging to quantify flow and gadolinium enhanced MRA. Advanced cardiac MRI tools are also outlined, such as myocardial perfusion imaging, tagging for wall motion analysis, and viability assessment with delayed enhancement.

1. Created by
Arun A
MRI Technologist
Dr.Shaji’s MRI
Kerala
1. Start off with scout images (Figure 1).
Figure 1.
• Position true axial images through the LV.
• Identify the interventricular septum and position a second oblique coronal scout
slice parallel to the septum through the LV (Figure 2).
Figure 2.

2. • From this 2-chamber scout (Figure 3) and the axial image (Figure 4), you can
define a double-oblique short-axis plane.
Figure 3. Figure 4.
• This short-axis view (Figure 5) can then be used with the 2-chamber scout
(Figure 6) to obtain the 4-chamber view (Figure 7).
Figure 5.
Figure 6.

3. Figure 7.
• From the 4-chamber view (Figure 7) and short axis (Figure 8), a true 2-chamber
view (Figure 9) can be defined.
Figure 8.
Figure 9.
• Optional LV outflow tract view for aortic valve evaluation is obtained in
oblique coronal from the true axial images. Position slice through aortic root
and directed toward the LV (Figure 10).

4. Figure 10
Cardiac MRI: The Basic Sequences
Black Blood Imaging
• ECG-gated spin echo (SE) or fast-spin echo (FSE) (turbo spin echo [TSE])
• ECG-gated db-HASTE (double IR-half-Fourier single-shot turbo-spin echo)
-Uses: To identify extraluminal aortic pathology, intramural hematoma, or dissection
-Cardiac gating: TR = R-R interval for SE or FSE; gating not absolutely needed for HASTE
-Can be performed breath-hold (fast imaging) or multiple averages non-breath-hold (NBH)
-To get more slices, one may need to concatenate slices
-HASTE can be used in arrhythmias
Bright Blood Imaging
• Cine gradient echo imaging (GRE)
• FASTCARD
• True fast imaging with steady-state precession (FISP)
-Uses: To determine flow, motion, aortic valvular disease
-Cardiac gating: Choose temporal resolution based on TR and R-R interval
# temporal phases 0.85 x (R-R/TR)
-Can be performed breath-hold (segmented k-space) or 3-4 averages NBH
-Real-time true FISP can be used in arrhythmias
-Retrospectively gated sequences can be used with peripheral pulse gating if necessary
Velocity-Encoded CINE (Phase Contrast)
• Velocity encoded CINE imaging (Vinnie)
• FASTCARD PC
-Uses: To quantify flow at stenoses to estimate pressure gradient or collateral blood flow

5. -Encoding velocity (venc) = 250-500 cm/sec for through plane velocity
-Cardiac gating: Choose temporal resolution based on TR and R-R interval
# temporal phases 0.85 x (R-R/TR)
-Can be performed breath-hold (segmented k-space, view-sharing) or multiple averages NBH
 Modified Bernouilli's equation:
 P (mm Hg) 4 vmax 2
 P (mm Hg) P = pressure gradient across stenosis
 vmax = peak velocity at or just distal to stenosis Regurgitant fraction = reverse flow during
diastole / total forward flow
 Total blood flow (eg, cardiac output = total flow at ascending aorta) = area under flow-time
curve
Gadolinium (Gd)-Enhanced MRA
• 3D spoiled GRE (with interpolation)
-Uses: aortography or pulmonary angiography
-Preferably breath-hold (ungated)
-Single or double dose (0.1-0.2 mmol/kg) Gd-contrast
-Timing based on test dose or fluoroscopic triggering (Care Bolus, Smart Prep etc.)
Special Considerations When Performing Cardiothoracic MRI
1. Postprocessing tools
o Maximum intensity projection/maximum perfusion reserve index
(MIP/MPRi)/volume rendering of Gd-MRA
o Ventricular function: calculating EFs, 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 maximum
ESV (end systolic volume) = sum all short axes at minimum
SV (stroke volume) = EDV-ESV
EF = (EDV-ESV)/EDV = SV/EDV
o Flow quantification from velocity-encoded phase contrast GRE
o Wall motion abnormalities: thickening, stress/strain maps, velocity maps
o Perfusion: analysis of enhancement profiles
2. Pitfalls in cardiothoracic MRI
o 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.
o Metallic artifacts
o Pseudo-subclavian stenosis on Gd-MRA of thoracic aorta
o Inaccurate timing
o Poor ECG-gating
Cardiac MRI: Advanced Tools

6. 1. Myocardial perfusion: baseline and stress
Dynamic multislice segmented GRE or echo planar imaging (EPI) during bolus infusion of
Gd
Optional adenosine or perfusion stress
2. Myocardial tagging: wall motion and thickening analysis, stress and strain, wall velocity
Optional dobutamine stress test for wall motion abnormalities
3. Myocardial viability: enhancement on delayed postcontrast images
Inversion recovery spoiled gradient echo for nulling of normal myocardium
4. Coronary MRA (intravascular or extravascular contrast agents)
5. Coronary flow (phase contrast flow quantification)
Optional adenosine for flow reserve measurements
6. Real-time MR fluoroscopy