Abstract #1180

Free-Breathing Technique for Myocardial T2* Measurement with GRE Multi-Echoes Pulse Sequence

Suwit Saekho^1,2, Uten Yarach¹, Petai Buttakote¹, Siriphan Luxsakhum¹, Arintaya Phrommintikul³, Nipon Chattipakorn⁴

¹Radiological Technology, Chiang Mai University, Muang, Chiang mai, Thailand; ²Biomedical Engineering Center, Chiang Mai University, Muang , Chiang Mai University, Thailand; ³Internal Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand; ⁴Cardiac Electrophysiology Research & Training Center , Chiang Mai University, Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Accuracy, reproducibility and selected curve fitting model for the T2* measurement depend on SNR and resolution of MR images. Currently, single breath-hold technique has been used in most centers. The limitation of this technique is that acquisition time is constrained by the breath-holding capability in each individual resulting in limited SNR and resolution on images. We propose free-breathing technique to assess myocardial T2* employing a navigator pre-pulse to reduce motion artifact. This technique improved the resolution and SNR by approximately 40% resulting in better inter-study and intra-observer reproducibility, as well as less dependent to the curve fitting algorithms.