Left ventricular infarct size, peri-infarct zone, and papillary scar measurements: A comparison of high-resolution 3D and conventional 2D late gadolinium enhancement cardiac MR

PURPOSE: To compare higher spatial resolution 3D late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (Cardiac MR) with 2D LGE in patients with prior myocardial infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients were studied using high spatial resolution 3D LGE (1.3 x 1.3 x 5.0 mm(3)) and conventional 2D LGE (2 x 2 x 8 mm(3)) scans. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured. Total infarct volume, peri-infarct volume measured in a limited slab, and papillary muscle scar volume were compared using Bland-Altman analysis. Image quality was graded. RESULTS: 3D LGE had higher scar SNR (P < 0.001), higher myocardial SNR (P = 0.001), higher papillary scar-blood CNR (P = 0.01), and greater sharpness (P = 0.01). The scar volumes agreed (14.5 +/- 8.2 for 2D, vs. 13.2 +/- 8.8 for 3D), with bias +/- 2 standard deviations (SDs) of 0.5 +/- 6.8 mL, P = 0.59 R = 0.91. The peri-infarct volumes correlated but less strongly than scar (P = 0.40, R = 0.77). For patients with more heterogeneous scar, larger peri-infarct volumes were measured by 3D (1.9 +/- 1.1 mL for 2D vs. 2.4 +/- 1.6 mL for 3D, P = 0.15, in the matched region). Papillary scar, present in 6/14 (42%) patients, was more confidently identified on 3D LGE. CONCLUSION: Higher spatial resolution 3D LGE provides sharper images and higher SNR, but less myocardial nulling. Scar volumes agree well, with peri-infarct volumes correlating less well. 3D LGE may be superior in visualization of papillary muscle scar.