Accelerated cardiac perfusion imaging using k‐t SENSE with SENSE training

In k‐t sensitivity encoding (SENSE), MR data acquisition performed in parallel by multiple coils is accelerated by sparsely sampling the k‐space over time. The resulting aliasing is resolved by exploiting spatiotemporal correlations inherent in dynamic images of natural objects. In this article, a modified k‐t SENSE reconstruction approach is presented, which aims at improving the temporal fidelity of first‐pass, contrast‐enhanced myocardial perfusion images at high accelerations. The proposed technique is based on applying parallel imaging on the training data in order to increase their spatial resolution. At a net acceleration of 5.8 (k‐t factor = 8, training profiles = 11) accurate representations of dynamic signal‐intensities were achieved. The efficacy of this approach as well as limitations due to noise amplification were investigated in computer simulations and in vivo experiments. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.