Simultaneous multi slice (SMS) balanced steady state free precession first-pass myocardial perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance with iterative reconstruction at 1.5 T

Table 1 Four categories for qualitative image quality assessment. (A) overall diagnostic image quality (range 0–3), (B) sequence-related artifact (7 criteria range 0–3, maximum total score 21), (C) patient related artifact (2 criteria with range 0–3, total maximum score 6) and (D) perceived signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) (range 0–3). (B) Score for sequence related artifact relates to total number of slices acquired (artifact present in 1, 2 or 3 slices would score 1, 2 and 3 respectively for 3 slice balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP); artifact present in 1–2, 3–4 or 5–6 slices would score 1, 2 and 3 respectively for 6-slice SMS)

Qualitative Criteria for perfusion Imaging
	0	1	2	3	maximum score
A. Overall Diagnostic Image Quality
	poor image quality and non-diagnostic	major artifact present but not limiting diagnosis	minor artifact present but not limiting diagnosis	excellent	3
					3
B. Sequence related artifact
Wrap around	none	1 slice	2 slices	3 slices	3
Respiratory ghosting	none	1 slice	2 slices	3 slices	3
Cardiac ghosting	none	1 slice	2 slices	3 slices	3
Image blurring	none	1 slice	2 slices	3 slices	3
Metallic artifact	none	1 slice	2 slices	3 slices	3
Banding artifact	none	1 slice	2 slices	3 slices	3
Cardiac Motion	none	1 slice	2 slices	3 slices	3
					21
C. Patient / equipment related artifact
Breathing motion	none	minor artifact present but not limiting diagnosis	major artifact present but not limiting diagnosis	non-diagnostic	3
ECG mistriggers	none	1 mistriggers	2 mistriggers	> 2 mistriggers	3
					6
D. Perceived Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)
	very poor SNR non-diagnostic image quality	minor noise present but not limiting diagnosis	major noise present but not limiting diagnosis	high SNR with excellent image quality	3
					3

ISSN: 1532-429X