Radionuclide ventriculography for assessment of absolute right and left ventricular volumes in children.

We determined absolute right and left ventricular volumes and cardiac output from the equilibrium radionuclide angiogram in 26 children, ages 3 months to 18 years, with diverse types of heart disease. We validated these results by comparing them with left ventricular (20 patients) and right ventricular (16 patients) cineangiographic volumes and cardiac output. Radionuclide volumes and cardiac outputs were determined in two ways: by a geometric method (area-length for left ventricle, Simpson's rule for right ventricle) and by a count-based method (correcting ventricular regional counts for frame duration, acquisition time, venous blood counts and attenuation). Both methods for estimating left ventricular end-diastolic volume compared favorably with cineangiography (correlation coefficients greater than 0.90). The count-based method also correlated well for the right ventricle. End-systolic measurements were not possible. Count-based assessment of cardiac output also correlated well with cineangiographic values. We conclude that right and left ventricular volumes and cardiac output can be reliably measured in children with equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography.