Myocardial T1 Values at 1.5 T: Normal Values for General Electric Scanners and Sex-Related Differences

Background: No data are available about normal ranges for native T1 in human myocardium using General Electric (GE) scanners. Purpose: To establish normal ranges for myocardial T1 values and evaluate regional variability and the influence of physiological factors. Study type: Prospective. Subjects: One hundred healthy volunteers with normal electrocardiogram, no cardiovascular/systemic diseases, or risk factors (age range: 20–70 years; 50 females). Field Strength/Sequence: 1.5 T/Steady-state free precession cine and a modified Look–Locker inversion recovery sequence in diastole (also in systole for 61 volunteers). Assessment: Image analysis was performed by operators with >10 years experience in cardiac MR using commercially available software. T1 values were calculated for 16 myocardial segments, and the global value was the mean. Segments were grouped according to circumferential region (anterior, septal, inferior, and lateral) and to level (basal, medial, apical). Twenty images were analyzed twice by the same operator and by a different operator to assess reproducibility. Statistical Tests: Independent-samples t-test or Mann–Whitney test; paired sample t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test; one-way repeated measures ANOVA or Friedman tests; Pearson's or Spearman's correlation. Reproducibility evaluated using coefficient of variability (CoV). Results: Due to artifacts and/or partial-volume effects, 45/1600 (2.8%) segments were excluded. A good intra- and inter-operator reproducibility was detected (CoV < 5%). There were significant differences in segmental T1 values (P < 0.05). A significant circumferential variability was present (P < 0.05): the mean native T1 value over the lateral region was significantly lower than in the other three regions. An increasing gradient from basal to apical slices was detected (P < 0.05). Segmental and global T1 values were not associated with age (range P = 0.052–0.911) but were significantly lower in males than in females (global: 993 ± 32 vs. 1037 ± 27 ms; P < 0.05) and significantly correlated with heart rate (range R for segmental values = 0.247–0.920; P < 0.05). Almost all segmental T1 values were inversely correlated with wall thickness (R from −0.233 to −0.514; P < 0.05). Systolic T1 values were significantly lower than diastolic values in basal anteroseptal segment, in all medial segments except the inferior one, and in all apical segments (P < 0.05). Data Conclusion: Myocardial T1 values differ among myocardial regions, are influenced by sex, heart rate, and wall thickness and vary according to the cardiac cycle in healthy adults. Level of Evidence: 2. Technical Efficacy: Stage 2.