Measurement of right ventricular volume from biplane contrast ventriculograms: validation by cast and three-dimensional echo.

Abstract

We compared six models for measuring right ventricular (RV) volume from biplane ventriculograms in the 30 degrees right anterior oblique and 60 degrees left anterior oblique projections in adult and dilated RVs. We used 27 casts of normal RVs plus 37 three-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic RV reconstructions that we rotated to the oblique projections for contour extraction. Biplane volumes were computed using published formulas. RV volumes ranged from 18.9 to 322.4 ml. Both sets of volumes correlated similarly to true volume and were combined. Simpson's method with 50 slices yielded the lowest absolute error (19.5 +/- 28.9 ml); Simpson's with 20 slices yielded the lowest bias (1.3 +/- 35.7 ml). The prism and area-length models performed within this range. The Simpson's method provides the most accurate measurement of RV volume from biplane contrast ventriculograms recorded in oblique projections. Volume validation can be performed using 3D echo data.