This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: j.jacc.2007.07.031v1 50/17/1668    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Niemann, P. S. Articles by Sahn, D. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Niemann, P. S. Articles by Sahn, D. J.

CLINICAL RESEARCH: CARDIAC IMAGING

Anatomically Oriented Right Ventricular Volume Measurements With Dynamic Three-Dimensional Echocardiography Validated by 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Petra S. Niemann, MD, PhD^_*, Luiz Pinho, MD^_*, Thomas Balbach, MD, Christian Galuschky, PhD, Michael Blankenhagen, PhD, Michael Silberbach, MD, FACC^_*, Craig Broberg, MD, FACC^_*, Michael Jerosch-Herold, PhD^_* and David J. Sahn, MD, MACC^_*,_*

^_* Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
TomTec Imaging Systems, Unterschleissheim, Germany

Manuscript received March 13, 2007; revised manuscript received June 26, 2007, accepted July 2, 2007.

^_* Reprint requests and correspondence: Dr. David J. Sahn, L608, Pediatric Cardiology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239-3098. (Email: sahnd{at}ohsu.edu).

Objectives: We tested a newly developed 4-dimensional (4D) right ventricular (RV) analysis method for computing RV volumes for both 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) images.

Background: Asymmetry and the anatomical complexity of the RV make accurate determination of RV shape and volume difficult.

Methods: Thirty patients, 14 with grossly normal cardiac anatomy and 16 with major congenital heart disease, were studied at the same visit with both 3D echocardiography (echo) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for RV size and function. Ultrasound images were acquired on a Philips 7500 system (Philips Medical Systems, Andover, Massachusetts) with a matrix-array transducer (real-time 3D echo) with full volume sweeps from apical and subcostal views. Sagittal, 4-chamber, and coronal views were derived for contour detection (all 12 to 24 slices). The MR images were acquired with a 3-T MRI magnet with segmented cine-loop gradient echo sequences in short- and rotated long-axis views to cover the RV inflow, body, and outflow tract. The RV volumes were analyzed with the new software applicable to 3D echo MR images.

Results: New software aided delineation of the RV free wall, tricuspid valve, RV outflow tract, and apex on 3D echo volumes. Although there was a slightly higher variability measuring right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) and volumes obtained by US compared with MRI, both imaging methods showed closely correlated results. The RVEF was measured with 4% variability for US and 5% variability for MRI with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.91. The RV end-diastolic volume was measured at 70.97 ± 15.0 ml with 3D US and at 70.06 ± 14.8 ml with MRI (r = 0.99), end-systolic volume measured 39.8 ± 10.4 ml with 3D US and 39.1 ± 10.2 ml with MRI (r = 0.98).

Conclusions: The new RV analysis software allowed validation of the accuracy of 4D echo RV volume data compared with MRI.

Abbreviations and Acronyms   3D = 3-dimensional   CHD = congenital heart disease   echo = echocardiography   EDV = end-diastolic volume   EF = ejection fraction   ESV = end-systolic volume   MRI = magnetic resonance imaging   RV = right ventricle/ventricular   RVOT = right ventricular outflow tract   SV = stroke volume   US = ultrasound