Assessment of left ventricular torsional deformation by Doppler tissue imaging: validation study with tagged magnetic resonance imaging.
BACKGROUND
Left ventricular (LV) torsional deformation is a sensitive index for LV performance but difficult to measure. The present study tested the accuracy of a novel method that uses Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) for quantifying LV torsion in humans with tagged magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a reference.


RESULTS
Twenty patients underwent DTI and tagged MRI studies. Images of the LV were acquired at apical and basal short-axis levels to assess LV torsion. We calculated LV rotation by integrating the rotational velocity, determined from DTI velocities of the septal and lateral regions, and correcting for the LV radius over time. LV torsion was defined as the difference in LV rotation between the 2 levels. DTI rotational and torsional profiles throughout systole and diastole were compared with those by tagged MRI at isochronal points. Rotation and torsion by DTI were closely correlated with tagged MRI results during systole and early diastole (apical and basal rotation, r=0.87 and 0.90, respectively; for torsion, 0.84; P<0.0001, by repeated-measures regression models). Maximal torsion showed even better correlation (r=0.95, P<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study has shown that DTI can quantify LV torsional deformation over time. This novel method may facilitate noninvasive quantification of LV torsion in clinical and research settings.
Notomi
Yuichi
Y
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Setser
Randolph M
RM
Shiota
Takahiro
T
Martin-Miklovic
Maureen G
MG
Weaver
Joan A
JA
Popović
Zoran B
ZB
Yamada
Hirotsugu
H
Greenberg
Neil L
NL
White
Richard D
RD
Thomas
James D
JD
D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000503:physiopathology; D003971:Diastole; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012399:Rotation; D013599:Systole