Human myocardium: single-breath-hold MR T1 mapping with high spatial resolution--reproducibility study.

A prospective study approved by the local ethics committee was performed to establish the normal range and reproducibility of myocardial T1 values as assessed with single-breath-hold T1 mapping with high spatial resolution. With a 1.5-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, baseline and contrast material-enhanced modified Look-Locker inversion recovery, or MOLLI, imaging was performed in 15 healthy volunteers who had given written informed consent. Image quality scores and myocardial T1 values were derived for standard short-axis segments and sections. Results were compared with those from a second MR imaging study performed on the same day (baseline only) and those from a third study performed on a different day (baseline and contrast enhanced; eight volunteers). Intra- and interobserver agreement were determined. Myocardial T1 maps were obtained rapidly in a reproducible fashion. A normal range for baseline and postcontrast myocardial T1 was established (baseline mean T1 in short-axis sections, 980 msec +/- 53 [standard deviation]; 95% confidence interval: 964, 997; number of sections, 43). This technique could enable direct quantification of changes in tissue characteristics in ischemic and inflammatory myocardial diseases.