Assessment of Global Left and Right Ventricular Function Using Dual-Source Computed Tomography (DSCT) in Comparison to MRI

Abstract

We sought to evaluate the ability of retrospectively ECG-gated dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) to assess left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) functional parameters in comparison to 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ten domestic pigs (60 kg) underwent both contrast-enhanced cardiac DSCT and cardiac MRI using standardized examination protocols under general anesthesia. From manually drawn endocardial and epicardial contours, LV and RV end-systolic (ESV) and end-diastolic volume (EDV), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF), myocardial mass (MM), peak filling rate (PFR), peak ejection rate (PER), time to peak ejection (TPE), and time to peak filling (TPF) were calculated by means of dedicated analysis software. LV and RV functional parameters were analyzed using Bland-Altman plots, Student t test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Both left and right ESV and EDV, SV and EF determined with DSCT correlated well with MR imaging results (left, r = 0.98/0.92/0.82/0.98; right, r = 0.90/0.94/0.96/0.94). PER, PFR, TPE, TPF, and MM showed only a moderate to low correlation (left, r = 0.67/0.37/0.23/0.35/0.57; right, r = 0.78/0.69/0.12/0.11/0.44). PER and PFR were significantly underestimated by DSCT when compared with MRI. Retrospectively ECG-gated DSCT correctly depicts end-systole and can accurately determine LV and RV volumes, SV, and EF in comparison to MRI. DSCT showed a significant underestimation of PER and PFR in comparison to MRI.