A Simple Assessment of Left Ventricular Function and Mass with Cine MRI

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the reproducibility of a proposed modified assessment method of end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), ejection fraction (EF) and mass of the left ventricle (LV). Cine MRI was performed in ten healthy volunteers and eight patients with heart disease presenting focal or global thinning of the LV wall and chamber dilatation. In LV, EDV, ESV, EF and LV mass were determined from the horizontal long axis slice by Simpson's disk method. The results were compared with the values computed from short-axis slices by Simpson's rule. Inter-observer and intra-observer reproducibility of Simpson's disk method in assessing LV volumes were 5.06% and 4.03% in percent variability, respectively. The agreement between Simpson's disk method and Simpson's rule, expressed in standard deviation of the mean bias, was acceptable regarding LV for EDV, ESV, EF and LV mass in the healthy volunteers as well as in the patients. Simpson's disk method may therefore serve as an alternative to assess LV for EDV, ESV, EF, and LV mass if the LV maintains its symmetry, and is clinically useful in patients who cannot tolerate long scan time.