[Assessment of regional left ventricular function with 64 multi-detector row computed tomography]

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Radiology
• Cardiac Mechanics

Background:

• Accurate assessment of regional left ventricular function (LVF) is crucial for diagnosing cardiac conditions.
• Establishing normative data for LVF parameters is essential for clinical interpretation.
• Advancements in CT technology offer potential for detailed functional analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate regional left ventricular function (LVF) in normal adults.
• To establish reference data for LVF parameters using retrospective ECG-gated 64-detector row CT.
• To assess the accuracy of 64-detector row CT in depicting regional LVF.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective ECG-gated 64-detector row CT scans were performed on 42 healthy adults.
• Ten cardiac cycle phases were reconstructed for short-axis left ventricular imaging.
• Cardiac analysis software was used to delineate endocardium/epicardium and calculate function parameters.

Main Results:

• End-systolic thickness (EST) was significantly greater than end-diastolic thickness (EDT) (P<0.05).
• LVF parameters varied across ventricular segments, with apical, mid-ventricular, and basal segments showing distinct patterns.
• Anterior, lateral, and inferior segments exhibited greater thickness and motion compared to septal segments (P<0.05).

Conclusions:

• Retrospective ECG-gated 64-detector row CT accurately depicts regional left ventricular function.
• The established LVF parameters in normal adults serve as a valuable reference for diagnosing abnormal left ventricular function.