The authors evaluated the reproducibility of measurements of ventricular dimensions obtained with cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performed on two occasions in 11 healthy subjects. Two reviewers analyzed the studies in a blinded fashion to determine interobserver and interstudy variability of measurements of left ventricular (LV) mass, volume, ejection fraction, and systolic wall stress. LV mass showed good reproducibility between studies, with 3.6% and 3.8% variability for LV end-systolic mass for the two observers. LV end-diastolic volume varied by 5.2% and 3.9%, and LV end-systolic volume, by 9.7% and 0.9%. Variability for LV ejection fraction was 5.0% and 4.9%. The largest interstudy variability was end-systolic wall stress, 11.1% and 13.5%, which was due mostly to changes in arterial pressure between the two studies. It is concluded that anatomic and functional measurements from cine MR images are reproducible between studies. The small interstudy variability is likely related to the fact the measurements are derived directly from cine MR images that encompass the entire heart rather than depend on measurements of only sample images and the use of geometric models.

FDG PET is able to detect bone marrow involvement in patients with multiple myeloma. FDG PET is useful in assessing extent of disease at time of initial diagnosis, contributing to staging that is more accurate. FDG PET is also useful for evaluating therapy response.

Left ventricular (LV) volumes and mass were evaluated in 10 healthy volunteers with breath-hold cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The results were compared with those obtained with conventional cine MR imaging. The breath-hold studies showed no ghosting artifact, and cardiac edges were clearly identified because of the reduced blurring. Measurements of LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), LV end-systolic volume (LVESV), and LV mass obtained with breath-hold cine MR imaging showed close correlation with those obtained with conventional cine MR imaging (r = .98, .97, and .99, respectively). The interobserver variabilities for LVEDV, LVESV, and LV mass determined with breath-hold cine MR imaging (4.0%, 8.0%, and 3.7%, respectively) were equal to or less than those determined with conventional cine MR imaging (4.0%, 8.6%, and 5.0%, respectively). The authors conclude that breath-hold cine MR imaging is highly useful because an accurate assessment of cardiac function is obtained in less than 5 minutes.

Acquisition and measurement of left ventricular (LV) volumes with a three-dimensional data set of cine magnetic resonance (MR) images from apex to base is a time-consuming process. Results of a study with 10 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with LV hypertrophy were prospectively evaluated. The heart was shown in the anatomic short- and horizontal long-axis planes with cine MR imaging. LV volumes were measured with various geometric models, and ejection fractions were calculated. In both groups, the values of LV stroke volume obtained with a modified Simpson rule and biplane ellipsoid models correlated well to the analysis of the three-dimensional data set of cine MR images. There were no significant differences for the calculated ejection fraction between values obtained with the modified Simpson rule or the biplane ellipsoid model versus the three-dimensional data set. A high inter-observer reproducibility of cine MR measurements with the two former models was found. Therefore, modified Simpson rule and biplane ellipsoid models, with their shorter acquisition and processing times, may increase the clinical utility of cine MR imaging.

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These findings suggest that velocity-encoded NMR imaging can be used to estimate regurgitant volume and regurgitant fraction in patients with mitral regurgitation and can discriminate patients with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation from normal subjects and patients with mild regurgitation. It may be useful for monitoring the effect of therapy intended to reduce the severity of mitral regurgitation.

velocity mapping-velocity-encoded cine (VEC) MR-was assessed by comparing VEC Richard Sernelka1MR data with independent measurements in a flow phantom and in human subjects. Elvse Foster

The interstudy reproducibility of velocity-encoded cine (VEC) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for quantification of regurgitant volume (RV) and regurgitant fraction (RF) was studied in 10 patients with chronic aortic regurgitation. Each patient underwent two VEC MR imaging studies. RV and RF were measured on the aortic flow curve by quantifying antegrade and retrograde flow per cardiac cycle. VEC MR imaging measurements for RV and RF correlated closely with volumetric measurements for both studies (r greater than .97). Interstudy reproducibility for VEC MR imaging measurement of RV and RF was high (r greater than .97), and the interstudy variability for VEC MR imaging measurements was low. These results demonstrate a high accuracy of VEC MR imaging for measurement of RV and RF in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation. The level of interstudy reproducibility of VEC MR imaging for quantitative assessment of RV and RF indicates the potential of this technique for follow-up and monitoring of response to therapy.