title: Quantitative assessment of ventricular function using three-dimensional SSFP magnetic resonance angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate three-dimensional (3D), free-breathing, steady-state free precession (SSFP) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for volumetric assessment of ventricular function.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 18 subjects (mean age = 21.5 years) 3D datasets of the heart and great vessels were acquired using an ECG-triggered, free-breathing SSFP technique with a T2-preparation prepulse. Data were acquired during end-systole (ES) and end-diastole (ED) for assessment of stroke volumes (SVs). Through-plane flow measurements of the great arteries were performed as well as 2D-cine SSFP imaging for comparison. For image analysis of the 3D SSFP datasets a simplex mesh model was used. Papillary muscles were excluded from ventricular volumes using thresholds. Intra- and interobserver variability (Bland-Altman analysis) and correlations (Pearson's coefficient) between volumetric and flow measurements were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ES and ED datasets were acquired successfully in all subjects. The best correlation was observed between flow vs. 3D SSFP SV for the LV (r = 0.85, mean difference = -1.0 mL) and the RV (r = 0.89, mean difference = -2.2 mL) with high intra- (LV: r = 0.93; RV: r = 0.94) and interobserver (LV: r = 0.91; RV: r = 0.93) reproducibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3D SSFP datasets combined with semiautomatic segmentation algorithms allow highly accurate and reproducible assessment of left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) SVs in free-breathing subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Hospital, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. gerald.greil@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Gerald F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Greil
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boettger
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Germann
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klumpp
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baltes
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kozerke
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bialkowski
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Urschitz
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Meinzer
authors.forename: Ludger
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sieverding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001331:Automation; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013599:Systole; D013997:Time Factors; D016276:Ventricular Function