SASHA versus ShMOLLI: a comparison of T1 mapping methods in health and dilated cardiomyopathy at 3 T

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance derived T1 mapping parameters are a non-invasive method of estimating diffuse myocardial fibrosis. This study aims to to determine the native T1 time, post contrast T1 time and extracellular volume (ECV) derived from T1 mapping and to evaluate the ability of T1 mapping techniques to discriminate healthy myocardium from dilated cardiomyopathy. Seventy-nine participants underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia. Fifty-seven healthy volunteers and twenty-two patients with Dilated cardiomyopathy were included in the study. Each participant had T1 mapping sequences performed at 3 T in the mid short axis slice—both SASHA and ShMOLLI T1 mapping were performed. Native T1, post contrast T1 and ECV values were compared in health and dilated cardiomyopathy. Native T1, post contrast T1 and ECV differed significantly between SASHA and ShMOLLI techniques (P < 0.001). All T1 parameters had similar ability to discriminate normal from abnormal myocardium (ROC AUC 0.691 to 0.830). Converting T1 values to Z scores significantly improved the agreement between SASHA and ShMOLLI techniques, particularly for post contrast T1 (ICC 0.19 to 0.895) and ECV (ICC 0.461 to 0.880). T1 mapping values from SASHA and ShMOLLI show strong correlation for post contrast measures, though with a consistent offset for all measures in health and dilated cardiomyopathy. All measures obtained using SASHA and ShMOLLI allow good discrimination between dilated cardiomyopathy and normal myocardium.