A framework for myoarchitecture analysis of high resolution cardiac MRI and comparison with diffusion tensor MRI.
The ventricular myocardium has a structure of branching laminae through which course regularly orientated myofibers, an architecture important in excitation and contraction. Quantifying this architecture is vital for understanding normal and disease states in the heart and for assessing their impact on electrical function. These data are also highly important in the construction of scientifically and clinically useful computer models of cardiac electrical behavior. Detailed structural information has previously been obtained from serial imaging. In this work we assess the potential for high-resolution (HR) MRI as a means to furnish useful myoarchitecture and compare and contrast this approach with the growing use of DT. Using rat hearts, we conclude that both approaches have strengths and weaknesses, however, HR-MRI may provide a consistently more robust picture of the myoarchitecture in small hearts.
Institute of Membrane and Systems Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom. s.h.gilbert@ leeds.ac.uk
Stephen H
SH
Gilbert
Gregory B
GB
Sands
Ian J
IJ
LeGrice
Bruce H
BH
Smaill
Olivier
O
Bernus
Mark L
ML
Trew
D000818:Animals; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity