Single‐breath‐hold multiple‐slice DENSE MRI

A method to acquire multiple displacement encoded slices within a single breath hold is presented. Efficiency is improved over conventional DENSE without compromising image quality by readout of multiple slices in the same cardiac cycle, thus utilizing the position‐encoded stimulated echo available in the whole heart. The method was evaluated by comparing strain values obtained using the proposed method to strain values obtained by conventional separate breath‐hold single‐slice DENSE acquisitions. Good agreement (Lagrangian E2 strain bias = 0.000, 95% limits of agreement ± 0.04, root‐mean‐square‐difference 0.02 [9.4% of mean end‐systolic E2]) was found between the methods, indicating that the proposed method can replace a multiple breath‐hold acquisition. Eliminating the need for multiple breath holds reduces the risk of changes in breath‐hold positions or heart rate, results in higher patient comfort, and facilitates inclusion of DENSE in a clinical routine protocol. Magn Reson Med 63:1411–1414, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.