Functional parameters of the left ventricle: comparison of cardiac MRI and cardiac CT in a large population.
OBJECTIVE
The authors sought to compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) for assessing left ventricular (LV) function parameters in a large patient population.


METHODS
The study was conducted on 181 patients who underwent cardiac MRI and cardiac CT for various indications. For MRI, we used two-dimensional cine balanced steady-state free precession (b-SSFP) sequences, and for CT we used multiphase short-axis reconstructions. Volume data sets were evaluated with dedicated software. Results were compared with a paired, two-tailed Student's t test, Pearson's correlation (r), and Bland-Altman analysis.


RESULTS
A high level of concordance was observed between cardiac MRI and CT. Ejection fraction (EF) was 53+/-14% for MRI vs. 53%+/-15% for CT. There was good correlation for EF (r=0.71; p>0.05) and end-systolic volume (r=0.74; p>0.05). End-diastolic volume (74+/-23 ml at MRI vs. 71+/-19 ml at CT; r=0.58; p<0.05) and myocardial mass (63+/-20 g at MRI and 56+/-18 g at CT; r=0.89; p<0.01) showed statistically significant differences, although the discrepancy had no clinical impact.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI and CT show a good level of agreement in assessing LV function parameters, and both can be used interchangeably in clinical practice.
Palumbo
A
A
Dipartimento di Radiologia e Cardiologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Parma, Italy.
Maffei
E
E
Martini
C
C
Messalli
G
G
Seitun
S
S
Malagò
R
R
Aldrovandi
A
A
Emiliano
E
E
Cuttone
A
A
Weustink
A
A
Mollet
N
N
Cademartiri
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D003287:Contrast Media; C057937:iomeprol; D007479:Iopamidol