Cardiac cine imaging
Cine cardiac imaging is the primary technique by which cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging characterizes regional and global contractile function of the heart and resulting blood flow through the great vessels. As such, cine imaging is of fundamental importance to clinical and research applications of CMR. The underlying technical challenge is to acquire high-quality images fast enough to characterize cardiac motion. A number of strategies have been developed to overcome this intrinsic challenge for MR-based imaging compared to real-time x-ray or ultrasound-based imaging. In general these strategies are highly successful, but typically involve trade-offs that vary somewhat depending on the health of the patient and the specific clinical question. In this chapter we review the fundamental principles of cine imaging, discuss the trade-offs associated with different strategies, and summarize these in the context of a typical CMR clinical service.
