A simple single slice method for measurement of left and right ventricular enlargement by electron beam tomography.
OBJECTIVE
We devised to test the feasibility of measuring the left and right ventricular sizes by non-contrast electron beam tomographic images.


METHODS
Ventricular sizes consist of the sum of the intracavitary cavity and myocardial mass for each ventricle. A total of 50-image studies from subjects undergoing contrast-enhanced studies were used to develop the measurement methodology. About 20 contrast studies were used to test the measure. The methodology was then prospectively tested on 75 patients with non-contrast studies to estimate the intra-observer, inter-observer and inter-study reproducibility.


RESULTS
Multiple linear regression analysis was completed and the correct regression formulas to calculate ventricular volumes were acquired by using the area and span from the contrast studies. There was excellent correlation between the estimate of LV (r > 0.97, p < 0.001) and RV (r > 0.93, p < 0.001) sizes between measured and calculated (contrast, single slice) left and right ventricular volumes. The intra-observer, inter-observer and inter-study reproducibility demonstrated excellent results with < 7% difference in absolute values and a high correlation (r > 0.89, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the left and right ventricular sizes can be accurately estimated from a single mid-ventricular slice on non-contrast electron beam tomographic images.
Mao
S
S
The Saint John's Cardiovascular Research Center and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California 90502, USA.
Budoff
M J
MJ
Oudiz
R J
RJ
Bakhsheshi
H
H
Wang
S
S
Brundage
B H
BH
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003287:Contrast Media; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017380:Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media