Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026
In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
Dynamic intramyocardial blood volume: evaluation with a radiological opaque marker method
Y H Liu1, R C Bahn, E L Ritman
1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Mayo Medical School, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
Insights
This study measured changes in heart muscle blood volume during the cardiac cycle using radiopaque markers and computed tomography. Findings show a strong correlation between volume changes measured by markers and those estimated from heart wall opacity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Medical Imaging
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Accurate measurement of intramyocardial blood volume is crucial for understanding cardiac function and disease.
- Previous methods for assessing myocardial blood volume changes have limitations in precision and real-time measurement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To deduce changes in intramyocardial blood volume within a cardiac cycle.
- To compare volume changes measured by radiopaque markers with those estimated from angiographic opacification.
Main Methods:
- Utilized radiopaque markers (lead beads) attached to the left ventricular epicardial and endocardial surfaces in anesthetized dogs.
- Employed dynamic spatial reconstructor (high-speed computed tomography) scans during aortography under control and adenosine-infused conditions.
- Quantified changes in myocardial volume using marker displacement (delta Vbead) and changes in wall opacity (delta Vblood).
Main Results:
- A strong correlation was observed between myocardial volume changes derived from bead markers and those estimated from wall opacity.
- The relationship was described by the equation: delta Vblood = 0.93 delta Vbead + 1.54%, with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.987.
- Adenosine infusion was used to induce changes in blood flow and volume for comparison.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully validated the use of radiopaque markers and dynamic spatial reconstructor imaging to accurately assess intramyocardial blood volume changes during the cardiac cycle.
- This method provides a reliable approach for quantifying myocardial blood volume dynamics, offering insights into cardiac physiology and potential diagnostic applications.
Abstract:
In this study the change of intramyocardial blood volume within one cardiac cycle was deduced from the time sequence of the volume delineated by radiopaque markers attached to the left ventricular wall. These data were compared with the change in the volume of the same region of myocardium estimated from the change in angiographic opacification of the heart wall. Five dogs were anesthetized, and four pairs of 2-mm-diameter lead beads were attached to the epicardial and endocardial regions. Two scans using the dynamic spatial reconstructor (a high-speed computed tomographic scanner) were performed during aortograms, one under control conditions and the other during adenosine infusion. The results have shown that the increases of myocardial volume defined by the beads (delta Vbead, % of volume at control) were comparable to the increase of intramyocardial blood volumes estimated by the increase in wall opacity (delta Vblood, % of muscle); delta Vblood = 0.93 delta Vbead + 1.54%; r = 0.987.
