title: Regional right ventricular function and timing of contraction in healthy volunteers evaluated by strain-encoded MRI.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamdan
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thouet
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kelle
authors.forename: Kelle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sebastian
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paetsch
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gebker
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wellnhofer
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schnackenburg
authors.forename: Ahmed S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Fahmy
authors.forename: Nael F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Eckart
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fleck
mesh_terms: 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*