Objective: To test if three-dimensional (3D) cine spatial frequency-temporal frequency Broad-use Linear Acquisition Speed-up Technique (k-t BLAST) is suitable for rapid evaluation of global and regional left ventricular (LV) functional parameters and to evaluate the influence of gadolinium administration.
Materials and methods: Parameters describing global and regional LV function were evaluated in 50 subjects using a two-dimensional (2D) steady-state free precession (SSFP) and pre- and postcontrast 3D k-t BLAST techniques. Data analyses included contrast-to-noise ratio analyses, and statistical evaluations included Bland-Altman, Cohen's kappa and analysis of variance techniques.
Results: Bland-Altman analyses revealed that the ejection fraction computed using the 3D k-t BLAST sequences before (bias+/-2S.D., 2.2+/-8.8) and after contrast administration (bias+/-2S.D., 2.7+/-7.6 mol) was comparable to the 2D SSFP technique. Similar agreement was noted for other global LV parameters. The myocardium-to-blood contrast in the apical slices was better in the 3D k-t BLAST sequence after contrast administration than before. Cohen's kappa values demonstrated good agreement between the sequences for evaluating regional wall motion.
Conclusions: 3D k-t BLAST can yield global and regional LV functional parameters comparable to those of the 2D SSFP technique in substantially shorter scan times. In 3D k-t BLAST images, myocardium-to-blood contrast in the apical slices is better after contrast administration.