Motion dependence of myocardial transverse relaxation time in magnetic resonance imaging

We discuss the effects of motion on the computation of the myocardial transverse relaxation time by use of magnetic resonance imaging. Equations describing its behavior are derived and illustrated graphically under different conditions. It is shown that the myocardial transverse relaxation time calculated from magnetic resonance images depends on the actual myocardial transverse relaxation time ex vivo (T2) as well as the phase of the cardiac cycle in which it is computed, heart rate, cardiac wall velocity, choice of spin-echoes used in the calculation, and the spin-echo times employed. In particular, the error in T2 decreases when both the first and third echoes are employed in the calculation, rather than only the first two echoes. However, the myocardial transverse relaxation time is more strongly dependent on heart rate in the former case rather than in the latter. Furthermore, the error in T2, when both the first and second spin echoes are used in the calculation, is seen to increase as the spin-echo time shortens. On the other hand, the error in T2 decreases for shorter spin-echo times when both the first and third spin echoes are used instead. The results are relevant to the noninvasive assessment of ischemia, cardiac transplantation rejection, and other myocardial disorders.