Application of high resolution T1 mapping with MOLLI (hrMOLLI) to differentiate patients with diffuse and regional myocardial disease from healthy subjects

Abstract

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is increasinglyapplied as the first line investigation into the causes ofmyocardial dysfunction and remodelling. Althoughregional fibrosis is easily imaged on late gadoliniumenhancement, characterisation of myocardial conditionswith diffuse fibrosis remains challenging. Several studiesproposed T1 mapping of gadolinium-enhanced myocardiumsupported by an inverse relationship between T1relaxation times and amount of fibrotic tissue on histology.We performed high-resolution modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (hrMOLLI) imaging of nativeand postcontast myocardium in thirty-six subjects whounderwent a routine CMR protocol for investigation ofcardiomyopathy.