Angulated transverse tomographic sections to measure cardiac dimensions by magnetic resonance imaging: a comparison with 2D-echocardiography.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown low accuracy in measuring cardiac dimensions in normal subjects, when transverse tomographic sections are used in comparison with 2D-echocardiography. The rationale of this study was to compare cardiac dimensions in 19 volunteers based on angulated (30 degrees caudo-cranial) transverse tomographic sections both in MRI and 2D-echo. Since the planes investigated by both techniques are superimposable, highly significant correlated Ao, LA, IVS, LW, LV, and RV dimensions are observed. Standardized MRI tomography permits reduction of total examination time and assures repeatability. Thus, using the method reported here, cardiac dimensions in humans might be obtained accurately by MRI.