Acute myocardial infarction: assessment of left ventricular function with 16-detector row spiral CT versus MR imaging--study in pigs.
OBJECTIVE
To assess global left ventricular (LV) function and regional wall motion with retrospective electrocardiographically gated 16-detector row computed tomography (CT) in comparison with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.


METHODS
In 15 pigs (mean weight, 53.9 kg +/- 9.5 [standard deviation]), acute myocardial infarction was induced with balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery after approval was obtained from the committee on animal affairs. Thereafter, multi-detector row CT and MR imaging were performed with standardized examination protocols. From manually drawn endocardial and epicardial contours, LV volumes, including mean ejection fraction, peak filling rate (PFR), peak ejection rate (PER), time to PER, and time from end systole to PFR, were calculated. Regional wall motion was assessed from cine loops with a 16-segment model of the left ventricle. LV function was analyzed by using Bland-Altman plots, Student t test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Regional wall motion scores were compared with weighted kappa statistic.


RESULTS
LV volumes determined with multi-detector row CT correlated well with MR imaging results, with an ejection fraction of 46.1% +/- 6.5 for multi-detector row CT and 46.8% +/- 5.9 for MR imaging (r = 0.97). PER, PFR, time to PER, and time from end systole to PFR showed a wide range of scattering and significant differences between multi-detector row CT and MR imaging for PER and time from end systole to PFR (P < .05). Regional wall motion scores showed a very high level of agreement with a kappa value of 0.88.


CONCLUSIONS
Although 16-detector row CT allows reliable assessment of LV volumes and regional wall motion at rest, it is not suited for assessment of all functional parameters.
Mahnken
Andreas H
AH
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Aachen University of Technology, Pauwelsstrasse 30, D-52074 Aachen, Germany. mahnken@rad.rwth-aachen.de
Katoh
Marcus
M
Bruners
Philipp
P
Spuentrup
Elmar
E
Wildberger
Joachim E
JE
Günther
Rolf W
RW
Buecker
Arno
A
D000818:Animals; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013552:Swine; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*