Quantitative evaluation of mitral regurgitation with ultrafast CT

To quantify cardiac valvular regurgitation, ultrafast CT was performed in 44 patients (including 27 patients with mitral regurgitation).

Stroke volume of the left ventricle was calculated by modified Simpson's rule with cine mode scanning of ultrafast CT, and ventricular output was measured as the product of stroke volume and heart rate. Cardiac output was calculated in the ascending aorta by the formula of the indicator dilution method with flow mode scanning of ultrafast CT. The difference between the left ventricular output and cardiac output was defined as "mitral regurgitant volume." Left ventriculography was also performed at the same time, to estimate the degree of mitral regurgitation according to Sellers' classification.

There was significant correlation between regurgitant fraction, standardized regurgitant volume, and grade of mitral regurgitation estimated by left ventriculography.

CT can measure mitral regurgitant volume by the combination of volumetry and indicator dilution method.