Reproducibility of MRI measurements of right ventricular size and function in patients with normal and dilated ventricles.

PURPOSE: To determine the inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived measurements of right ventricular (RV) mass, volume, and function in patients with normal and dilated ventricles.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

CMR studies of 60 patients in three groups were studied: a normal RV group (N = 20) and two groups with RV dilation-atrial septal defect (ASD) (N = 20) and repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) (N = 20). Two independent observers analyzed each study on two separate occasions. Inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of biventricular mass, volume, ejection fraction (EF), and stroke volume (SV) measurements were calculated.

RESULTS

High intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were found for interobserver (ICC = 0.94-0.99) and intraobserver (ICC = 0.96-0.99) comparisons of RV and left ventricular (LV) mass, volume, and SV measurements. RV and LV EF measurements were less reproducible (ICC = 0.79-0.87). RV mass measurements were significantly less correlated than the respective LV measurements. Small but statistically significant differences in correlation were noted in RV measurements across groups.

CONCLUSION

Except for RV mass, inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of RV size and function measurements is high and generally comparable to that in the LV in patients with both normal and dilated RV.