title: Intra-observer and interobserver variability of biventricular function, volumes and mass in patients with congenital heart disease measured by CMR imaging.
abstract: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging provides highly accurate measurements of biventricular volumes and mass and is frequently used in the follow-up of patients with acquired and congenital heart disease (CHD). Data on reproducibility are limited in patients with CHD, while measurements should be reproducible, since CMR imaging has a main contribution to decision making and timing of (re)interventions. The aim of this study was to assess intra-observer and interobserver variability of biventricular function, volumes and mass in a heterogeneous group of patients with CHD using CMR imaging. Thirty-five patients with CHD (7-62 years) were included in this study. A short axis set was acquired using a steady-state free precession pulse sequence. Intra-observer and interobserver variability was assessed for left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) volumes, function and mass by calculating the coefficient of variability. Intra-observer variability was between 2.9 and 6.8% and interobserver variability was between 3.9 and 10.2%. Overall, variations were smallest for biventricular end-diastolic volume and highest for biventricular end-systolic volume. Intra-observer and interobserver variability of biventricular parameters assessed by CMR imaging is good for a heterogeneous group of patients with CHD. CMR imaging is an accurate and reproducible method and should allow adequate assessment of changes in ventricular size and global ventricular function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Saskia E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Luijnenburg
authors.forename: Daniëlle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Robbers-Visser
authors.forename: Adriaan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moelker
authors.forename: Hubert W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Vliegen
authors.forename: Barbara J M
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: Willem A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Helbing
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right; D055815:Young Adult