Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with right ventricular outflow tract premature contractions

• Published in: European heart journal 1997-12, Vol.18 (12), p.2002-2010
• Main Authors: Proclemer, A., Basadonna, P. T., Slavich, G. A., Miani, D., Fresco, C., Fioretti, P. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac dysrhythmias; Cardiology. Vascular system; Electrocardiography; Female; Heart; Heart Ventricles - pathology; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; premature ventricular contractions; Prospective Studies; right ventricular outflow tract; Ventricular Premature Complexes - diagnosis; Ventricular Premature Complexes - pathology
• ISSN: 0195-668X; 1522-9645
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.eurheartj.a015212

Aims To assess prospectively the value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with apparently idiopathic premature contractions arising from the right ventricular outflow tract. Methods We compared magnetic resonance imaging scans in 19 patients (13 males and six females, mean age 44 years) with frequent (>100 per hour), monomorphic (left bundle branch block and inferior axis morphology) extrasystoles, and in 10 volunteers (four males and six females, mean age 36·7 years) without structural heart disease. Magnetic resonance imaging studies (1 or 1·5 Tesla) included spinecho and gradient-echo sequences in the standard planes. The presence of structural and dynamic abnormalities of the right and left ventricles, such as reduced wall thickness, systolic bulging, and decreased systolic thickening, were evaluated. In addition, end-diastolic diameters of the right ventricular outflow tract were measured in the transverse plane. Results The dimensions of the right ventricular outflow tract were wider in patients with extrasystoles compared to the control group. Mean anteroposterior and transverse diameters were 39·6±4·6 mm vs 29·9±4·8 mm (P