The assessment of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction with magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography with automatic border detection: A comparative study

The measurement of left ventricular volume is essential for the objective a ssessment of cardiac performance. We measured left ventricular volume and e jection fraction as obtained by two-dimensional (2D)-echocardiography (2D-E cho), echocardiography using automatic border detection (ABD), magnetic res onance imaging (MRI) using manual measurements (MRI manual), and MRI measur ed automatically (MRI auto), according to a new algorithm developed at the Tel Aviv University. Echocardiographic volumes were calculated according to the area-length method in the four-chamber view. Volumes on MRI were calcu lated according to Simpson's rule. Fifteen subjects were studied (14 males and 1 female, ages 19-72 years), and good correlations between left ventric ular ejection fraction measurements were obtained by ABD and MRI auto (r = 0.83, SEE = 0.09), 2D-Echo, ABD, MRI manual, and MRI auto provide comparabl e measurements of left ventricular function despite volume underestimation by MRI auto.