Kieran R. O'Brien1,2, Brett R. Cowan1,
Matthew D. Robson3, Mohammad Latif4, Andrew J. Kerr4,
Alistair A. Young1,5
1Centre of Advanced MRI,
University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; 2Universit de
Genve, Geneva, Switzerland; 3Oxford University Centre for
Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United
Kingdom; 4Cardiology, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand; 5Radiology
& Anatomy, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Intravoxel dephasing, due to long TEs, in aortic stenosis jets hinders the ability to accurately quantify the peak velocity and flow with phase contrast (PC). Previously, we proposed a PC ultrashort TE sequence, which provided superior performance in a high velocity stenotic flow phantom. Here, we investigated the clinical feasibility of this sequence. Smaller variability was observed between repeat stroke volume measurements; however, large background phase errors were present. Further optimisation of the sequence, that removes the sensitivity to background phase, could result in a more clinically reliable sequence for the MR evaluation of aortic stenosis patients.
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