MR imaging of the heart

MR phase images can be obtained directly from standard spin-echo sequences and used to display motion. MR imaging was performed in several healthy subjects and nine-patients. Pathology included idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS), ventricular septal defect, malignant pericardial effusion, aortic dissection, and mediastinal mass. Phase images displayed the instantaneous velocities in the myocardium. In IHSS, the enlarged septal wall showed a conspicuous lack of intramyocardial velocity gradient in systole, in contrast to a significant gradient across the left ventricular free wall. In other cases phase images were useful in differentiating slow flow from myocardium, and flow effect from clot or tumor. In combination with conventional imaging, phase imaging improves diagnostic accuracy and may provide significant additional information in the detection of the presence and extent of myocardial disease