Functional measurements based on feature tracking of cine magnetic resonance images identify left ventricular segments with myocardial scar

• Published in: Cardiovascular ultrasound 2009-11, Vol.7 (1), p.53-53, Article 53
• Main Authors: Maret, Eva, Todt, Tim, Brudin, Lars, Nylander, Eva, Swahn, Eva, Ohlsson, Jan L, Engvall, Jan E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cicatrix - pathology; Coronary Circulation; Female; Heart Ventricles; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; Male; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Middle Aged; Myocardial Contraction; Myocardial Infarction - diagnostic imaging; Myocardial Infarction - pathology; Myocardial Infarction - physiopathology; Myocardium - pathology; Observer Variation; ROC Curve; Sensitivity and Specificity; Ultrasonography; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - diagnosis; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - diagnostic imaging; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - pathology
• ISSN: 1476-7120; 1476-7120
• DOI: 10.1186/1476-7120-7-53

The aim of the study was to perform a feature tracking analysis on cine magnetic resonance (MR) images to elucidate if functional measurements of the motion of the left ventricular wall may detect scar defined with gadolinium enhanced MR.Myocardial contraction can be measured in terms of the velocity, displacement and local deformation (strain) of a particular myocardial segment. Contraction of the myocardial wall will be reduced in the presence of scar and as a consequence of reduced myocardial blood flow. Thirty patients (3 women and 27 men) were selected based on the presence or absence of extensive scar in the anteroseptal area of the left ventricle. The patients were investigated in stable clinical condition, 4-8 weeks post ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. Seventeen had a scar area >75% in at least one anteroseptal segment (scar) and thirteen had scar area 50%. As a percentage of the mean, intraobserver variability was 16-14-26% for radial measurements of displacement-velocity-strain and corresponding interobserver variability was 13-12-18%. Feature tracking analysis of cine-MR displays velocity, displacement and strain in the radial and longitudinal direction and may be used for the detection of transmural scar. The accuracy and repeatability of the radial functional measurements is satisfactory and global measures agree.