Interleaved spiral cine coronary artery velocity mapping

Navigator-echo controlled interleaved spiral cine coronary-artery velocity maps were acquired in eight free-breathing volunteers. Good quality data were achieved in all subjects with phasic flow being clearly demonstrated. The improved efficiency of spiral k-space coverage compared to that of more conventional spin-warp techniques resulted in a mean scan time for 256 × 256 pixel-matrix studies of 94 sec (range 69 – 123 sec, SD = 20 sec), the navigator acceptance rate being typically 40–45%. Repeat scans in five subjects showed a high degree of reproducibility, with no significant differences occurring in the peak velocities (14.6 ± 1.4 cm/sec vs. 14.5 ± 1.5 cm/sec, P = ns) nor in the mean velocities measured over all cine phases (8.3 ± 2.1 cm/sec vs. 8.7 ± 1.6 cm/sec, P = ns). The potential benefits of using this sequence for assessing coronary blood flow and flow reserve are discussed. Magn Reson Med 43:787–792, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.