Reproducibility of MRI measurements of right ventricular size and function in patients with normal and dilated ventricles

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived measurements of right ventricular (RV) mass, volume, and function in patients with normal and dilated ventricles.

Materials and methods: CMR studies of 60 patients in three groups were studied: a normal RV group (N = 20) and two groups with RV dilation-atrial septal defect (ASD) (N = 20) and repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) (N = 20). Two independent observers analyzed each study on two separate occasions. Inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of biventricular mass, volume, ejection fraction (EF), and stroke volume (SV) measurements were calculated.

Results: High intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were found for interobserver (ICC = 0.94-0.99) and intraobserver (ICC = 0.96-0.99) comparisons of RV and left ventricular (LV) mass, volume, and SV measurements. RV and LV EF measurements were less reproducible (ICC = 0.79-0.87). RV mass measurements were significantly less correlated than the respective LV measurements. Small but statistically significant differences in correlation were noted in RV measurements across groups.

Conclusion: Except for RV mass, inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of RV size and function measurements is high and generally comparable to that in the LV in patients with both normal and dilated RV.

(c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Figures

Figure 1

Use of cross-reference between ventricular long- and short-axis imaging planes to determine inclusion of basal slices in the ventricular volume analysis. When an operator selects a frame on the short-axis grid, that location is highlighted on the linked horizontal and vertical long axis images, allowing the operator to determine the location of the slab relative to the atrio-ventricular valves.

Figure 2

Bland-Altman plots of the mean difference between observers and the 95% confidence limits for RV and LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, ejection fraction, and end-diastolic mass.

Figure 3

Average analysis time per patient as a function of observer experience.