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1st pass high resolution imaging

First pass imaging can also be implemented such that a single high-resolution slice is acquired per heartbeat. This is different to first pass myocardial perfusion imaging where multiple slices are acquired in each heartbeat.

!/images/ci/firstpass1t.gif(1st Pass study shows contrast entering the right heart and passing directly into the left ventricle, thus demonstrating a large VSD)! !/images/ci/firstpass2t.gif(Axial image at the level of the heart demonstrates a hypervascular mass on the right chest wall on 1st pass imaging.)!
An inversion preparatory pulse is used to null the signal from blood and normal myocardium. TrueFISP is used because of the faster imaging time. This technique is particularly useful for characterizing intracardiac shunts and other abnormalities such as myocardial masses and aneurysms.