title: Automatic fuzzy classification of the washout curves from magnetic resonance first-pass perfusion imaging after myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to investigate the diagnostic ability of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) perfusion in acute reperfused myocardial infarction. The study used fuzzy logic to automatically classify signal intensity-time curves from myocardial segments into 3 categories: normal, hypointense, and Hyperintense.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight patients with myocardial infarction underwent short-axis cine-MRI and contrast-enhanced MRI to provide data on wall thickening and the transmural extent of infarction. Of these, 17 had a second cardiac MRI to ascertain the functional recovery in each segment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fuzzy logic based classification performs well (kappa= 0.87, P < 0.01) in comparison with a visual approach. Segments providing "hypo" curves do not recover (Delta = 0.11 SD = 0.96) whereas segments demonstrating the other curve types recover (Delta = 1 SD = 1.98 for "hyper" curves and Delta = 1.54 SD = 1.77 for "normal" curves).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed automatic signal intensity-time curve classification has a prognostic value when studying the functional recovery of pathologic segments and clearly identifies the no-reflow phenomenon known to induce poor recovery.
authors: Laboratoire de Biophysique, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France. alexandre.comte@u-bourgogne.fr
authors: Alexandre
authors: A
authors: Comte
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Lalande
authors: Alexandre
authors: A
authors: Cochet
authors: Paul M
authors: PM
authors: Walker
authors: Jean-Eric
authors: JE
authors: Wolf
authors: Yves
authors: Y
authors: Cottin
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Brunotte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D017143:Fuzzy Logic; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media