Accurate estimation of global and regional cardiac function by retrospectively gated multidetector row computed tomography - Comparison with cine magnetic resonance imaging

Retrospective reconstruction of ECG-gated images at different parts of the cardiac cycle allows the assessment of cardiac function by multi-detector row CT (MDCT) at the time of non-invasive coronary imaging. We compared the accuracy of such measurements by MDCT to cine magnetic resonance (MR). Forty patients underwent the assessment of global and regional cardiac function by 16-slice MDCT and cine MR. Left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes estimated by MDCT (134 +/- 51 and 67 +/- 56 ml) were similar to those by MR (137 +/- 57 and 70 +/- 60 ml, respectively; both P=NS) and strongly correlated (r=0.92 and r=0.95, respectively; both P < 0.001). Consequently, LV ejection fractions by MDCT and MR were also similar (55 +/- 21 vs. 56 +/- 21%; P=NS) and highly correlated (r=0.95; P < 0.001). Regional end-diastolic and end-systolic wall thicknesses by MDCT were highly correlated (r=0.84 and r=0.92, respectively; both P < 0.001), but significantly lower than by MR (8.3 +/- 1.8 vs. 8.8 +/- 1.9 mm and 12.7 +/- 3.4 vs. 13.3 +/- 3.5 mm, respectively; both P < 0.001). Values of regional wall thickening by MDCT and MR were similar (54 +/- 30 vs. 51 +/- 31%; P=NS) and also correlated well (r=0.91; P < 0.001). Retrospectively gated MDCT can accurately estimate LV volumes, EF and regional LV wall thickening compared to cine MR.