[Left ventricular systolic function: how to understand it and analyze it]

In cardiac magnetic resonance imaging studies, left ventricular systolic function is usually calculated automatically. To understand and interpret parameters of left ventricular systolic function correctly, it is fundamental to understand how each parameter is obtained and why values obtained with different techniques, for example, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging, can differ. This article provides details about the usual analysis of systolic function from the quantitative and qualitative points of view; it also explains other methods that do not require specific software. Moreover, we provide a file that we designed for use with Microsoft Excel(®) to enable simple, intuitive analysis of systolic function. Readers can use this file freely.