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Right and left ventricular volumes and wall measurements: determination by computed tomography in arrested canine
Insights
Computed tomography (CT) accurately measures cardiac dimensions and volumes in canine hearts. This imaging technique offers a geometric model-independent approach for assessing ventricular size.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
- Anatomy
Background:
- Computed tomographic (CT) imaging can visualize cardiac structures.
- Accurate measurement of cardiac dimensions and volumes is crucial for diagnosing heart conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential of CT imaging for measuring cardiac dimensions and ventricular volumes.
- To assess the correlation between CT-derived measurements and traditional methods.
Main Methods:
- Ten isolated canine hearts were scanned using CT after filling with an iodinated contrast medium.
- Measurements of interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall thickness were taken.
- Ventricular cavity volumes were calculated from serial tomographic images using planimetry or computer printouts.
Main Results:
- CT measurements of cardiac wall thickness showed high correlation with physical specimen measurements.
- CT-derived ventricular volumes correlated well with paraffin cast volumes (P < .05).
- The CT method demonstrated applicability to both left and right ventricles, irrespective of shape.
Conclusions:
- CT imaging is a viable tool for accurate cardiac dimension and volume measurement.
- This technique provides a non-geometric model-dependent method for assessing ventricular volumes.
- CT offers a valuable approach for cardiac assessment in research and potentially clinical settings.
Abstract:
Computed tomographic (CT) images of in vitro hearts filled with iodinated contrast medium have delineated right and left ventricular cavities, papillary muscles, major trabeculae, pulmonary artery, and the aorta. Because of relatively good structural definition, this study was undertaken to determine the potential use of CT in the measurement of cardiac dimensions and cavity volumes. Ten isolated arrested canine hearts were filled with an iodinated oil-paraffin mixture and scanned transversely from base to apex. Measurements of the thickness of the interventricular septum and of the left ventricular posterior wall (indexes of cardiac hypertrophy) had a high degree of correlation to similar measurements of corresponding heart specimens. Using serial tomographic images, the cavity volumes of individual tomographic scans were totaled. The volume of each scan of given thickness was obtained either by the use of planimetry or from a numerical computer printout. Both the planimetric and computer methods gave right and left ventricular volumes which correlated well (P less than .05) with the volumes of paraffin casts. Unlike other techniques widely used for ventricular volume measurement, the method described does not depend on an assumption that the chamber resembles a specific geometric model. This method of volume measurement is applicable to both the left ventricle, regardless of its shape, and to the concave irregularly shaped right ventricle.