Hybrid cardiac imaging with MR-CAT scan: A feasibility study

We demonstrate the feasibility of a new versatile hybrid imaging concept, t he combined acquisition technique (CAT). for cardiac imaging. The cardiac C AT approach, which combines new methodology with existing technology, essen tially integrates fast low-angle shot (FLASH) and echoplanar imaging (EPI) modules in a sequential fashion, whereby each acquisition module is employe d with independently optimized imaging parameters. One important CAT sequen ce optimization feature is the ability to use different bandwidths for diff erent acquisition modules. Twelve healthy subjects were imaged using three cardiac CAT acquisition strategies: a) CAT was used to reduce breath-hold d uration times while maintaining constant spatial resolution; b) CAT was use d to increase spatial resolution in a given breath-hold time; and c) single -heart beat CAT imaging was performed. The results obtained demonstrate the feasibility of cardiac imaging using the CAT approach and the potential of this technique to accelerate the imaging process with almost conserved ima ge quality. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2000;11:711-716. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, I nc.