Cardiac Cine MRI Using a Commercially Available 0.55-T Scanner.

Purpose To compare parameters of left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) volume and function between a commercially available 0.55-T low-field-strength cardiac cine MRI scanner and a 1.5-T scanner. Materials and Methods In this prospective study, healthy volunteers (May 2022 to July 2022) underwent same-day cine imaging using both scanners (0.55 T, 1.5 T). Volumetric and functional parameters were assessed by two experts. After analyzing the results of a blinded crossover reader study of the healthy volunteers, 20 participants with clinically indicated cardiac MRI were prospectively included (November 2022 to February 2023). In a second blinded expert reading, parameters from clinical 1.5-T scans in these participants were compared with those same-day 0.55-T scans. Results are displayed as Bland-Altman plots. Results Eleven healthy volunteers (mean age: 33 years [95% CI: 27, 40]; four of 11 [36%] female, seven of 11 [64%] male) were included. Very strong mean correlation was observed ( r = 0.98 [95% CI: 0.97, 0.98]). Average deviation between MRI systems was 1.6% (95% CI: 0.3, 2.9) for both readers. Twenty participants with clinically indicated cardiac MRI were included (mean age: 55 years [95% CI: 48, 62], six of 20 [30%] female, 14 of 20 [70%] male). Mean correlation was very strong ( r = 0.98 [95% CI: 0.97, 0.98]). LV and RV parameters demonstrated an average deviation of 1.1% (95% CI: 0.1, 2.1) between MRI systems. Conclusion Cardiac cine MRI at 0.55 T yielded comparable results for quantitative biventricular volumetric and functional parameters compared with routine imaging at 1.5 T, if acquisition time is doubled. Keywords: Cardiac, Comparative Studies, Heart, Cardiovascular MRI, Cine, Myocardium Supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2024.