Left and right ventricle assessment with Cardiac CT: validation study vs. Cardiac MR.

OBJECTIVES

To compare Magnetic Resonance (MR) and Computed Tomography (CT) for the assessment of left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular functional parameters.

METHODS

Seventy nine patients underwent both Cardiac CT and Cardiac MR. Images were acquired using short axis (SAX) reconstructions for CT and 2D cine b-SSFP (balanced-steady state free precession) SAX sequence for MR, and evaluated using dedicated software.

RESULTS

CT and MR images showed good agreement: LV EF (Ejection Fraction) (52  ±  14% for CT vs. 52  ±  14% for MR; r  =  0.73; p  >  0.05); RV EF (47  ±  12% for CT vs. 47 ± 12% for MR; r  =  0.74; p > 0.05); LV EDV (End Diastolic Volume) (74  ±  21 ml/m² for CT vs. 76  ±  25 ml/m² for MR; r  =  0.59; p > 0.05); RV EDV (84  ±  25 ml/m² for CT vs. 80  ±  23 ml/m² for MR; r  =  0.58; p > 0.05); LV ESV (End Systolic Volume)(37  ±  19 ml/m² for CT vs. 38  ±  23 ml/m² for MR; r  =  0.76; p  >  0.05); RV ESV (46  ±  21 ml/m² for CT vs. 43  ±  18 ml/m² for MR; r  =  0.70; p  >  0.05). Intra- and inter-observer variability were good, and the performance of CT was maintained for different EF subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac CT provides accurate and reproducible LV and RV volume parameters compared with MR, and can be considered as a reliable alternative for patients who are not suitable to undergo MR.

KEY POINTS

• Cardiac-CT is able to provide Left and Right Ventricular function. • Cardiac-CT is accurate as MR for LV and RV volume assessment. • Cardiac-CT can provide accurate evaluation of coronary arteries and LV and RV function.