Extended coverage first-pass perfusion imaging using sliceinterleaved TSENSE. Magn Reson Med 2004;51:200–204

Parallel imaging applied to first-pass, contrast-enhanced cardiac MR can yield greater spatial coverage for a fixed temporal reso-lution. The method combines rate R 2 acceleration using TSENSE with shot-to-shot interleaving of two slices. TheR SNR loss is largely compensated for by a longer effective repetition time (TR) and increased flip angle associated with slice interleav-ing. In this manner, increased spatial coverage is achieved while comparable or better image quality is maintained. Single-heart-beat temporal resolution was accomplished with spatial coverage of eight slices at heart rates up to 71 bpm, six slices up to 95 bpm, and four slices up to 143 bpm. Experiments in normal subjects (N 6) were performed to assess signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values. Magn Reson Med 51