Human cardiac imaging at 3 T using phased array coils

Using a two-element phased array receiver coil, single breath-hold, ECG gat ed cardiac images of signal-to-noise ratios up to 130 and contrast-to-noise ratios exceeding 35 between myocardium and blood were recorded at 3 T. At several locations within the myocardium, T-2* and B-o inhomogeneity were de termined. Because of shorter T-2* times and larger B-0 inhomogeneities attr ibutable to enhanced susceptibility effects, real-time cardiac imaging, the use of spiral scans, and echo planar imaging are expected to be considerab ly more difficult at 3 T. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.