A novel 3D contrast-free and motion corrected sequence for simultaneous assessment of chronic myocardial scar and coronary veins is proposed, using magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) to target the increase in collagen content associated with fibrosis. Two gradient echo datasets are sequentially acquired to obtain MTR: a reference and an off-resonance MT-weighted image. Bloch simulations and in-vivo data demonstrated that the proposed acquisition is superior to bSSFP MT-weighted sequences, yielding more consistent MTR values throughout the myocardium. Scans in patients with chronic scar confirmed the ability of MTR to localize scar, in addition to cardiac vein visualization from the MT-weighted image.
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