David A. Bluemke, M.D., Ph.D.

David A. Bluemke, M.D., Ph.D.Associate Professor, Clinical Director, MRI

Departments of Radiology and MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of

MedicineBaltimore, Maryland July 2006.

‘How I do’ CMR in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/

Cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C)

Disclosures

• Off-label: gadolinium MRI of the heart

• Sponsorship: JHU ARVD Center, NHLBI N01-CM-27018, Donald W. Reynolds Foundation

• João Lima, MD, Hugh Calkins, MD, Henry Halperin, MD, Saman Nazarian, MD

• Frank Marcus, MD

• Harikrishna Tandri, MD, Chandra Bomma, MD, Ernesto Castillo, MD

• Crystal Tichnell, JHH ARVD center

Acknowledgements

This presentation is posted for members of scmr as an educational guide – This presentation is posted for members of scmr as an educational guide – it represents the views and practices of the author, and not necessarily it represents the views and practices of the author, and not necessarily those of SCMR. those of SCMR.

Disclaimer

ARVD/C – Protocol Summary

1. Axial & short axis “T1” images, with blood suppression (double IR FSE/ TSE)

- 5 mm slice thickness, ETL 24-28

- to avoid wrap-around, use anterior coils only

- 10-12 slices axial, 5 slices short axis over the heart.

2. Same as (1), but axial only, with fat suppression

3. SSFP Cine: axial and short axis, long axis cine- 10-12 short axis cine images, 8 axial images, 4 chamber cine

4. Delayed gadolinium images- 5 short axis images, 6-8 axial imagesNote: since the protocol is long, the minimum # of slices

in each plane is given above.

Black blood double IR TSE/ FSE images• Either 1 RR or 2 RR is fine, blood

suppression pulse for dark blood– TE 20-30 ms, ETL 24-32, 256x256, ZIP to 512– 5x3 mm, 1 NEX, breath-holding– Anterior coil only to avoid wrap, FOV 24-28

Repeat the axial images with fat sat

• Axial “T1” images, blood/ fat suppression– TE min, ETL 24-32, 256x256, ZIP– 5x3 mm (same slice locations as non fatted images)– Anterior coil, FOV 24-28

Fat suppression reduces artifacts especially for the RV free wallThe axial plane for fat sat is sufficient.

Common protocol questions:

1. What about prone imaging?• not necessary with breath-hold imaging.• difficult for patients to sustain for the duration

of this protocol (45 + minutes).

2. Why is there some much “axial” imaging?

• Axial imaging provides an excellent view of the anterior RV wall and RVOT. It is easy for the technologist.

• HLA (long axis) images do not image the RVOT

Common protocol questions:3. We have a double IR single shot sequence (ssfse,

HASTE) that is much faster – should I use this?

NO!As seen below, these images blur RV detail and are

not used for ARVD/C

Axial/ Short Axis Cine SSFP Images

17% of normal volunteers, triangular shape RV

37% of normal volunteers have a normal “anterior” bulge. The remainder have a “round” shaped RV.

• Axial: 6 mm, skip 2 mm, FOV 36 cm, same slice locations as the black blood images for axials. 8-10 images from the diaphragm to the aortic root.

• Obtain a 10-12 short axis cines to quantitate LV and RV function (short axis not shown).

Last Step: IR prepped delayed Gad

• Same pulse sequence as for infarct (viability) imaging

• 8-10 axial images, 5 short axis images (same locations as black blood images)

• We perform short axis first; then reduce the TI (inversion time) by 25 msec for axial images.

ARVD/C MRI Reports• MRI criteria: a) enlargement of the RV, b) regional RV

wall motion abnormalities or aneurysms. Double reading of all cases is recommended.

• Presence of fat and fibrosis (delayed gad) can help, but are not official diagnostic criteria.

• Major criterion: Severe abnormalities: can be seen by the first year resident.

• Minor criterion: Mild-moderate abnormalities: you are not sure, probably present and you want to document these.

• MRI Impression, choose one of the following:– 1. Normal MRI– 2. Nonspecific findings (minor criterion)– 3. MRI consistent with ARVD/C (major criterion)

2nd Opinions can be obtained at www.ARVD.com