Comprehensive 4D velocity mapping of the heart and great vessels by cardiovascular magnetic resonance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Phase contrast cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is able to measure all three directional components of the velocities of blood flow relative to the three spatial dimensions and the time course of the heart cycle. In this article, methods used for the acquisition, visualization, and quantification of such datasets are reviewed and illustrated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Currently, the acquisition of 3D cine (4D) phase contrast velocity data, synchronized relative to both cardiac and respiratory movements takes about ten minutes or more, even when using parallel imaging and optimized pulse sequence design. The large resulting datasets need appropriate post processing for the visualization of multidirectional flow, for example as vector fields, pathlines or streamlines, or for retrospective volumetric quantification.</p> <p>Applications</p> <p>Multidirectional velocity acquisitions have provided 3D visualization of large scale flow features of the healthy heart and great vessels, and have shown altered patterns of flow in abnormal chambers and vessels. Clinically relevant examples include retrograde streams in atheromatous descending aortas as potential thrombo-embolic pathways in patients with cryptogenic stroke and marked variations of flow visualized in common aortic pathologies. Compared to standard clinical tools, 4D velocity mapping offers the potential for retrospective quantification of flow and other hemodynamic parameters.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Multidirectional, 3D cine velocity acquisitions are contributing to the understanding of normal and pathologically altered blood flow features. Although more rapid and user-friendly strategies for acquisition and analysis may be needed before 4D velocity acquisitions come to be adopted in routine clinical CMR, their capacity to measure multidirectional flows throughout a study volume has contributed novel insights into cardiovascular fluid dynamics in health and disease.</p

Effects of pulmonary regurgitation on distensibility and flow of the branch pulmonary arteries in tetralogy of Fallot

Significant pulmonary regurgitation (PR) after repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) may affect flow in the pulmonary artery (PA) side branches. We sought to assess flow changes and distensibility of the PA side branches in vivo and test correlation with the degree of PR and right-ventricular (RV) dilatation. Thirty patients after TOF repair and 16 controls underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance for quantification of RV volumes and measurement of flow in the PA side branches. RV volumes and function, blood flow volumes, and cross-sectional area of the main, left (LPA), and right (RPA) PA were measured and regurgitant volumes and distensibility calculated. Results were compared between the LPA and the RPA and between patients and controls. Median regurgitation fraction of PR was 41 % (range 22-60 %). Regurgitant fraction was greater in the LPA (40 %) than in the RPA (29 %), resulting in lower net flow into the LPA (p < 0.001). LPA area was significantly greater than that of the RPA (303.9 vs. 232.7 mm(2)/m(2)) (p < 0.0001). The LPA showed lower distensibility than the RPA (39 vs. 44 %). PA side branch distensibility correlated with MPA regurgitant volume (p = 0.001), MPA regurgitant fraction (p = 0.001), and RV end-diastolic volume (p = 0.03). PA side branches have greater distensibility in patients with PR than in normal subjects. Significant PR leads to changes in flow profile and distensibility of the PA side branches. The LPA shows greater regurgitant volume and greater area but lower distensibility than the RPA