title: Intra-observer and interobserver reproducibility of right ventricle volumes, function and mass by cardiac magnetic resonance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) allows quick and non-invasive evaluation both of right ventricle (RV) volume and function, which are important in many heart diseases. We have evaluated CMR intra- and interobserver reproducibility in different conditions of RV dimension and function.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have analysed CMR exams of 45 subjects, randomly selected from our database according to RV end-diastolic volume (EDV; 15-subject groups with EDV < 25th, 25-75th and > 75th percentiles of a normal control population). Selected subjects were of both sexes (male/female 33/12) and of variable age (8-83 years) and body surface (0.9-2.3 m). RV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (ESV), ejection fraction (EF) and mass were blindly evaluated by two operators. Bland-Altman bias and coefficient of variability (CoV) were used to assess intra- and interobserver reproducibility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A wide range of EDV (range = 46-239 ml), ESV (20-129 ml) and EF (6-64%) was observed. The intra-observer bias was -5 ml for EDV, -2 ml for ESV, -1% for EF and 5 g for mass, with a CoV of 7-12%. The interobserver bias was 5 ml for EDV, 2 ml for ESV, 2% for EF and 6 g for mass, with a CoV of 8-13%. Analysis by tertiles showed EF assessment variability to be higher in the lower tertiles at intra-observer (P < 0.036) and, above all, at interobserver (P < 0.000) analysis. Mass assessment variability was higher in the upper tertile (P < 0.004) at intra-observer analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intra- and interobserver reproducibility of RV parameters assessed by CMR are adequate in a wide range of RV dimensions and function. However, caution is required with respect to the significance of small changes of EF and mass in the case of poor function and hypertrophy of the RV, respectively.
authors: Division of Cardiology, IRCCS Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, Pavia, Italy. ocatalano@fsm.it
authors: Oronzo
authors: O
authors: Catalano
authors: Serena
authors: S
authors: Antonaci
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Opasich
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: Moro
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Mussida
authors: Mariarosa
authors: M
authors: Perotti
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Calsamiglia
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Frascaroli
authors: Maurizia
authors: M
authors: Baldi
authors: Franco
authors: F
authors: Cobelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D009929:Organ Size; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology; D016276:Ventricular Function