CineMRI

Cine MRI, or cine magnetic resonance imaging, is a dynamic cardiac MRI technique that creates a sequence of images through the cardiac cycle to visualize the motion of the heart and great vessels. It commonly uses balanced steady-state free precession sequences and is typically acquired with electrocardiogram gating to synchronize data across heartbeats, sometimes supplemented by navigator or respiratory gating to reduce motion.

The technique is used to assess cardiac function and motion. Clinically, cine MRI provides quantitative measurements of left and right ventricular volumes, stroke volume, and ejection fraction, and it can identify regional wall-motion abnormalities. It supports evaluation of valvular disease and complex congenital heart disease, and it aids in characterizing cardiomyopathies. Cine imaging is often preferred when precise volumetric data are required or when echocardiography results are suboptimal.

Acquisition generally includes short-axis stacks covering the ventricles and standard long-axis views such as 2-chamber and 4-chamber planes. Images are acquired in breath-holds or with rapid, real-time techniques, depending on patient ability and protocol. Temporal resolution typically ranges from about 20 to 40 milliseconds per frame, with multiple phases captured per cardiac cycle.

Advantages of cine MRI include high soft tissue contrast, excellent delineation of border between blood pool and myocardium, and lack of ionizing radiation. Limitations include dependence on patient cooperation and gate reliability, susceptibility to arrhythmias, longer exam times, and MRI contraindications. Cine MRI is a cornerstone in comprehensive cardiac MRI examinations and complements other imaging modalities.