Routine 3D SSFP cine imaging for improved analysis of myocardial volumetry and deformation

Background Conventional 2 dimensional (2D) cine MRI of myocardial motion is limited in its ability to describe the complex 3 dimensional (3D) motion of the heart due to sparse coverage and inconsistent breath-holding. So far, clinical feasibility of 3D cine imaging has been limited due to the long acquisition times and requirements for acceleration techniques that are not routinely available. We demonstrate the use navigator-gated 3D cine acquisition that can be performed with routine acceleration techniques within the time constraints of clinical MRI scans. We compared the accuracy, reproducibility and image quality of 3D steady-state-free-precession (SSFP) cine imaging of the heart with conventional 2D SSFP cine imaging for the assessment of cardiac volumes, global and regional myocardial function.