title: MDCT coronary angiography vs 2D echocardiography for the assessment of left ventricle functional parameters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was done to compare the parameters of left ventricular (LV) function obtained by multidetector computed tomography coronary angiography (MDCT-CA) using 64-slice equipment with those obtained using twodimensional echocardiography (2D-SE) considered as reference standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April 2008 and September 2009, 116 consecutive patients were studied with both techniques. We analysed the parameters commonly sampled in echocardiography and related them with those retrieved with MDCT-CA: septal thickness, posterior wall thickness, diameter of ascending aorta, diameter and volumes in end-systolic and end-diastolic phase, ejection fraction, stroke volume, cardiac output and heart mass.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Good correlation was found measuring septal thickness (r=0.470; p=0.001), and diameters of the ascending aorta. Correlation between systolic and diastolic diameters obtained with the two techniques was good. Poor correlation was attained measuring thickness of the posterior wall (r=0.243; p=0.104). MDCT-CA consistently overestimated the average volumes; diastolic and systolic volumes showed significant correlation (r=0.0456; p= 0.002; r=0.640; p<0.001). Ejection fraction agreement showed a significant correlation (r=0.626; p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MDCT-CA provides parameters of cardiac function comparable to those found in echocardiography. MDCT-CA although used primarily for coronary noninvasive imaging can provide additional information on ventricular function useful to the diagnostic workup of cardiac patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Policlinico "G.B. Rossi" Borgo Roma, P.le L.A. Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy. rmalag@sirm.org
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malagò
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tavella
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Onofrio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caliari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pezzato
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nicolì
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benussi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pozzi Mucelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002302:Cardiac Output; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013318:Stroke Volume; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left