Impact of navigator timing on free-breathing submillimeter 3D coronary magnetic resonance angiography

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of navigator timing on image quality in navigator-gated and realtime motion-corrected, free-breathing, three-dimensional (3D) coronary MR angiography (MRA) with submillimeter spatial image resolution. Both phantom and in vivo investigations were performed. 3D coronary MRA with real-time navigator technology was applied using variable navigator time delays (time delay between the navigator and imaging sequences) and varying spatial resolutions. Quantitative objective and subjective image quality parameters were assessed. For high-resolution imaging, reduced image quality was found as a function of increasing navigator time delay. Lower spatial resolution coronary MRA showed only minor sensitivity to navigator timing. These findings were consistent among volunteers and phantom experiments. In conclusion, for submillimeter navigator-gated and real-time motion-corrected 3D coronary MRA, shortening the time delay between the navigator and the imaging portion of the sequence becomes increasingly important for improved spatial resolution. Magn Reson Med 47:196-201, 2002. (C) 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.