Dependence of Myocardial BOLD Contrast on Imaging Parameters at 1.5T: Monte Carlo Simulation and Experiments

Xiangzhi Zhou¹, Richard Tang¹, Rachel Klein¹, Debiao Li¹, Rohan Dharmakumar¹

The effect of TR and flip angle on SSFP based myocardial BOLD sensitivity was studied using a theoretical model which incorporated diffusion effects through Monte-Carlo simulation. Theoretical results were validated using an animal model with controllable coronary artery stenosis. Both simulations and experimental findings show that SSFP-based myocardial BOLD contrast is directly dependent on TR and flip angle at 1.5T.