The potential of phase and amplitude images in determining the boundary of the left ventricle.

The phase and amplitude images derived from multiple gated blood pool studies of the heart have been used to aid the delineation of the boundary of the left ventricle. The results of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) using this method have been compared with those obtained using edge detection algorithms, dual region of interest techniques, and x-ray contrast ventriculography, in a series of patients with well documented left ventricular wall motion. The results indicate that the sole use of phase and amplitude images does not improve the correlation or accuracy of LVEF estimation in relation to those obtained by x-ray contrast ventriculography, and that the dual region of interest technique is likely to remain the preferred method.