Assessment of semi-quantitative parameters for visual interpretation of stress-perfusion CMR in obstructive coronary artery disease

Background Adenosine stress CMR with visual interpretation is increasingly used in the evaluation of patients with CAD. The definition of a stress perfusion defect is inconsistent in the literature regarding i) the duration from contrast arrival, ii) persistence relative to a remote segment, iii) transmural extent, and iv) reversibility on rest perfusion. In this study we sought to test several semi-quantitative parameters assessed by rapid visual analysis, and determine their utility to identify stress-perfusion defects from obstructive CAD.