Parametric Mapping: Here to Stay-Parametric mapping: The Basics of T1, T2, and ECV

Parametric mapping: The Basics of T1, T2, and ECV

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker explains the basics of myocardial T1, ECV, and T2 mapping in cardiac MRI. Standard CMR images are qualitative, while mapping techniques aim to measure tissue properties directly for more objective assessment of heart health. T1 mapping is done by sensitizing the signal with inversion recovery and fitting recovery curves, with clinical variants including MOLLI, ShMOLLI, and SASHA, each differing in speed, SNR, and accuracy. ECV mapping uses pre- and post-contrast T1 measurements plus blood pool and hematocrit correction to estimate extracellular space, helping identify fibrosis and infarction. T2 mapping uses T2 preparation pulses to detect edema and injury. A major challenge is that measured values vary with sequence, vendor, processing, heart rate, physiology, and other confounders, so normal ranges are site-specific. The talk concludes that ongoing research aims to improve accuracy, speed, motion robustness, and multi-parameter mapping.

Keywords

myocardial T1 mapping

ECV mapping

T2 mapping

cardiac MRI

fibrosis and edema