Reproducibility study of left ventricular measurements with breath-hold cine MRI using a semiautomated volumetric image analysis program

The reproducibility of a semiautomated method of volumetric analysis allowi ng estimates of left ventricular (LV) parameters in approximately 5 minutes of analysis time is reported. Twenty normal volunteers underwent cine brea th-hold cardiac MRI on two occasions with two observers using this new semi automated method to estimate LV parameters. Reproducibility of this techniq ue was comparable to published data with a variability of less than approxi mately 10% for all LV parameters calculated, Using;this technique, the 95% confidence limits for change for left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVE DV) = +/- 15 mi, left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV) = +/- 8 mi, L V mass = +/- 24 g. and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) = +/- 6%. This new method also compared favorably to established manual methods. This new method permits estimation of LV parameters with acceptable reproducibi lity in a time that may permit routine quantitation of cardiac MR studies.