Dual-source CT assessment of ventricular function in healthy and infarcted myocardium: an animal study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess global and regional ventricular function in the presence of myocardial infarction (MI) using cardiac dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) in comparison to magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.


METHODS
Fourteen pigs (58.6 ± 8.9 kg) were included in this study. In seven animals acute MI was induced by temporary balloon occlusion of the left circumflex artery. Thereafter, DSCT and MR imaging were performed with standardized examination protocols. Left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) volumes, ejection fraction (EF), peak filling rate (PFR), and peak ejection rate (PER) as well as LV myocardial mass were calculated. LV wall motion was visually assessed from cine loops. Data was analyzed using Bland-Altman plots, Lin's concordance-correlation coefficient (ρ(c)) and weighted kappa statistics.


RESULTS
Ventricular volumes and mass as determined by DSCT correlated well with MR imaging. Mean LV-EF was 49.4 ± 16.5% on DSCT and 50.0 ± 16.1% on MR imaging (ρ(c) = 0.9928). The corresponding mean RV-EF results were 45.9 ± 10.6% and 45.8 ± 10.6% (ρ(c) = 0.9969), respectively. Bland-Altman plots revealed no systematic errors, but PER and PFR showed a relevant scattering. Regional wall motion scores agreed in 216/224 myocardial segments (κ = 0.925).


CONCLUSIONS
DSCT permits the reliable assessment of global and regional function in healthy and infarcted myocardium, but is not yet suited for the assessment of dynamic functional parameters like PER and PFR.
Mahnken
Andreas H
AH
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, D-52074 Aachen, Germany. mahnken@rad.rwth-aachen.de
Bruners
Philipp
P
Bornikoel
Christoph M
CM
Flohr
Thomas
T
Schmidt
Bernhard
B
Völk
Markus
M
Krombach
Gabriele A
GA
Guenther
Rolf W
RW
Mühlenbruch
Georg
G
D000818:Animals; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013552:Swine; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*