title: [Quantification of ventricular mass and function using real-time free-breathing SSFP sequences].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare real-time free-breathing steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequences with conventional breath-hold segmented SSFP sequences on the quantification of ventricular mass and function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiac function and mass were assessed in 15 consecutive patients with cardiopathies who underwent MRI for diverse indications. Sequences were planned in the short axis to include the area from the base to the apex of the ventricle. Two sequences were used: 1) a conventional breath-hold segmented SSFP sequence with 7-mm-thick slices and 3-mm gap between slices and 2) a real-time free-breathing SSFP sequence with 10-mm-thick slices. The systolic and diastolic volumes (VTD, VTS) and ejection fraction (EF) of both ventricles were evaluated and the mass of the left ventricle (LVM) was measured. The correlation between the different sequences was studied for each variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An excellent correlation was observed between the two sequences on the quantification of cardiac parameters in both ventricles (0.9; p < 0.01). The mean differences for EF, VTD, VTS, and stroke volume (VTD-VTS) were 2.5% (2.1), 5.6 ml (14.2), -0.8 ml (6.4), 6.4 ml (9.4), respectively, for the left ventricle and 1.7% (3.1), 1.8 ml (18.7), -1.9 ml (9.8), 3.7 ml (10.8), respectively, for the right ventricle. The mean difference between the LVM was 4.8 g (6.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The real-time free-breathing SSFP sequence is useful for the quantification of ventricular mass and function. The correlation with conventional SSFP is excellent. Both sequences allow the cardiac parameters to be precisely quantified and the results are reproducible.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Radiología. Clínica Universitaria. Universidad de Navarra. Pamplona. España. bastarrika@unav.es
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bastarrika Alemañ
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Domínguez Echávarri
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Azcárate Agüero
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castaño Rodríguez
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fernández Jarne
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gavira Gómez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012119:Respiration; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology*