Initial Feasibility of Free-breathing Multiparametric Mapping with Echo Planar Imaging to Derive T1, T2 and ADC Maps

Motivation: Co-registered quantification of relevant tissue characteristics including T1, T2 and ADC has the potential to aid the diagnosis of various cardiomyopathies. Goal(s): Our goal was to produce co-registered cardiac T1, T2 and ADC maps using free-breathing MultiParametric single shot Echo Planer Imaging (MP-EPI). Approach: Pixel-wise value quantifications of T1, T2, and ADC were calculated and compared in a static phantom and 5 healthy subjects following respiratory motion correction. Results: The MP-EPI technique demonstrated consistency with reference measurements (R>0.97) for T1 and T2 values, with no significant differences observed in human subjects (p>0.2), and normal ADC values. Impact: Free breathing, co-registered multiparametric maps from EPI-based images may provide complementary information for the diagnosis and characterization of comprehensive myocardiopathies. This method has the potential to expand to include other tissue characterization in the heart, such as T2*, and CEST.