Robust cardiac T1_ρ mapping at 3T using adiabatic spin-lock preparations

Purpose: The aim of this study is to develop and optimize an adiabatic (Formula presented.) ((Formula presented.)) mapping method for robust quantification of spin-lock (SL) relaxation in the myocardium at 3T. Methods: Adiabatic SL (aSL) preparations were optimized for resilience against (Formula presented.) and (Formula presented.) inhomogeneities using Bloch simulations. Optimized (Formula presented.) -aSL, Bal-aSL and (Formula presented.) -aSL modules, each compensating for different inhomogeneities, were first validated in phantom and human calf. Myocardial (Formula presented.) mapping was performed using a single breath-hold cardiac-triggered bSSFP-based sequence. Then, optimized (Formula presented.) preparations were compared to each other and to conventional SL-prepared (Formula presented.) maps (RefSL) in phantoms to assess repeatability, and in 13 healthy subjects to investigate image quality, precision, reproducibility and intersubject variability. Finally, aSL and RefSL sequences were tested on six patients with known or suspected cardiovascular disease and compared with LGE, (Formula presented.), and ECV mapping. Results: The highest (Formula presented.) preparation efficiency was obtained in simulations for modules comprising 2 HS pulses of 30 ms each. In vivo (Formula presented.) maps yielded significantly higher quality than RefSL maps. Average myocardial (Formula presented.) values were 183.28 (Formula presented.) 25.53 ms, compared with 38.21 (Formula presented.) 14.37 ms RefSL-prepared (Formula presented.). (Formula presented.) maps showed a significant improvement in precision (avg. 14.47 (Formula presented.) 3.71% aSL, 37.61 (Formula presented.) 19.42% RefSL, p < 0.01) and reproducibility (avg. 4.64 (Formula presented.) 2.18% aSL, 47.39 (Formula presented.) 12.06% RefSL, p < 0.0001), with decreased inter-subject variability (avg. 8.76 (Formula presented.) 3.65% aSL, 51.90 (Formula presented.) 15.27% RefSL, p < 0.0001). Among aSL preparations, (Formula presented.) -aSL achieved the better inter-subject variability. In patients, (Formula presented.) -aSL preparations showed the best artifact resilience among the adiabatic preparations. (Formula presented.) times show focal alteration colocalized with areas of hyper-enhancement in the LGE images. Conclusion: Adiabatic preparations enable robust in vivo quantification of myocardial SL relaxation times at 3T.