Regional right ventricular function and timing of contraction in healthy volunteers evaluated by strain-encoded MRI.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively determine the feasibility and accuracy of strain-encoded (SENC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the characterization of the right ventricular free wall (RVFW) strain and timing of contraction at 3.0 Tesla (3T) MRI.


METHODS
In 12 healthy volunteers the RVFW was divided into three segments (anterior, lateral, and inferior) in each of three short-axis (SA) slices (apical, mid, and basal) and into three segments (apical, mid, and basal) in a four-chamber view. The study was repeated on a different day and interobserver and interstudy agreements were evaluated.


RESULTS
Maximal systolic longitudinal strain values were highest at the apex and base, with a pronounced decrease in the medial segments (apex: -19.1% +/- 1.4; mid: -17.4% +/- 2; base: -19.4% +/- 2.4, P < 0.001), and maximal systolic circumferential strain showed the highest values at the apex (apex: -18.1% +/- 1.7; mid: -17.6% +/- 1.2; base: -16.6% +/- 0.9, P < 0.001). Peak systolic longitudinal and circumferential shortening occurred earliest at the apex compared to the mid-ventricle and base. Excellent interobserver and interstudy correlation and agreement were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of SENC MRI for the assessment of normal RV contraction pattern is feasible and accurate in 3T MRI.
Hamdan
Ashraf
A
Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Thouet
Thomas
T
Kelle
Sebastian
S
Sebastian
Kelle
K
Paetsch
Ingo
I
Gebker
Rolf
R
Wellnhofer
Ernst
E
Schnackenburg
Bernhard
B
Fahmy
Ahmed S
AS
Osman
Nael F
NF
Fleck
Eckart
E
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology*