Reference Values of Native T1 at 3T Cardiac Magnetic Resonance—Standardization Considerations between Different Vendors

Abstract

This study aimed at establishing native T1 reference values for a Canon Vantage Galan 3T system and comparing them with previously published values from different vendors. A total of 20 healthy volunteers (55% Women; 33.9 ± 11.1 years) underwent left ventricular T1 mapping at 3T MR. A MOLLI 5(3)3 sequence was used, acquiring three short-axis slices. Native T1 values are shown as means (±standard deviation) and Student’s independent samples t-test was used to test gender differences in T1 values. Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis was used to compare two processes of T1 analysis. The results show a global native T1 mean value of 1124.9 ± 55.2 ms (exponential analysis), that of women being statistically higher than men (1163 ± 30.5 vs. 1077.9 ± 39.5 ms, respectively; p < 0.001). There were no specific tendencies for T1 times in different ventricular slices. We found a strong correlation (0.977, p < 0.001) with T1 times derived from parametric maps (1136.4 ± 60.2 ms). Native T1 reference values for a Canon 3T scanner were provided, and they are on par with those already reported from other vendors for a similar sequence. We also found a correlation between native T1 and gender, with higher values for women.