Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 20, 2022
Atrial dimensions in health and left ventricular disease using cardiovascular magnetic resonance
Jeffrey L Anderson1, Benjamin D Horne, Dudley J Pennell
1LDS Hospital, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. jeffrey.anderson@ihc.com
Insights
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides superior imaging for assessing normal adult atrial size ranges. Proposed measurements for atrial area and depth by CMR are greater than echocardiography values.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) offers higher spatial resolution than echocardiography.
- Standardized normal measurements for CMR-assessed atrial size are lacking.
- This study aims to establish normal ranges for atrial dimensions using CMR.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine normal adult ranges for left and right atrial size using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).
- To compare CMR-derived atrial measurements with echocardiography findings.
- To propose new reference values for atrial dimensions in healthy adults.
Main Methods:
- Studied 20 healthy adults and 20 cardiac patients with cardiomyopathy.
- Measured four-chamber left and right atrial areas and depths using CMR.
- Compared measurements between normal and diseased subjects to define normal ranges.
Main Results:
- Normal four-chamber left and right atrial systolic areas averaged 21 cm².
- Average atrial depths were 53 cm (left) and 52 cm (right).
- Systolic area < 24 cm² and depth < 58 cm best distinguished normal from abnormal hearts, including the 95th percentile.
Conclusions:
- Proposed normal ranges for 1- and 2-dimensional left and right atrial size by CMR.
- CMR-derived atrial size measurements are generally larger than those from echocardiography.
- These findings provide essential reference values for interpreting CMR studies.
Background:
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has superior spatial resolution compared with echocardiography, but assessment of normal measurements has lagged behind its increasing clinical application. We assessed atrial size by CMR in healthy and diseased subjects to determine normal adult ranges.
Methods:
Twenty normal adults and 20 cardiac patients with hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy were studied. Four and two chamber left and four chamber right atrial areas and left and right atrial depths were measured and compared, and a normal range for these measures was proposed.
Results:
Normal four-chamber left and right atrial systolic areas each averaged 21 cm2. Average depths were 53 and 52 cm, respectively. For both the left and right atrium, a systolic area of < 24 cm2 included the upper 95th percentile of the normal range and (especially for the left atrium) best separated normal from abnormal hearts. For atrial depth, a systolic value of < 58 cm best distinguished normal from abnormal and also included the upper 95th percentile of the normal range.
Conclusions:
Normal ranges for 1- and 2-dimensional left and right atrial size by CMR are proposed. These values are in general greater than those reported for echocardiography.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
01:23Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
01:21Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System IV: CMRI
01:29Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy