Phase-velocity cine magnetic resonance imaging measurement of pulsatile blood flow in children and young adults: in vitro and in vivo validation.

Quantification of blood flow in vessels provides valuable information that aids management decisions in a variety of cardiac conditions. Current flow measurement techniques are often limited by accuracy, time resolution, convenience, or anatomic localization. This study examined the accuracy of a commercially available phase-velocity cine magnetic resonance imaging (PVC MRI) technique to quantify flow rate in a pulsatile flow phantom. In addition, the equivalence of PVC MRI measurements of pulmonary and systemic flow was evaluated in children and adults without any pathologic shunt. Using a pulsatile flow phantom, volume flow rates measured by PVC MRI were compared to those by a transit-time ultrasound flowmeter over a range of flow rates (1.25-3.5 L/min, 13 trials). Close agreement was found between these techniques (y = 1.02x - 0.02, r = 0.99, Bland-Altman bias = -0.045 L/min, 95% limits of agreement = -0. 19-0.10 L/min). Twenty subjects (median age 12.8 years, range 0.7-49 years) with no pathologic shunt underwent PVC MRI measurement of blood flow in the main pulmonary artery (Q(p)) and the ascending aorta (Q(s)). Data processing time for each location was 20 minutes. The Q(p)/Q(s) ratio closely approximated unity (mean = 0.99, SD = 0. 10, range 0.85-1.19). Interobserver agreement was excellent (Bland-Altman bias = 0.09 L/min, 95% limits of agreement = 0.15-0.33 L/min). PVC MRI is an accurate technique to quantify pulsatile blood flow at a specific location. It can be used to noninvasively calculate Q(p) and Q(s) under normal flow conditions.