Normal human right and left ventricular mass, systolic function, and gender differences by cine magnetic resonance imaging

Our objective was to establish normal ranges of left and right ventricular mass and function with cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to determi ne gender differences. Seventy-five healthy subjects (age range 8-55, mean 28 yr) were studied with cine MRI. Ten dogs were imaged for autopsy validat ion with a mean difference between actual and MRI-determined mass of 0.2 A +/- 8.4 g. Intra observer and inter-observer variability and interstudy var iability were 5-6%. All parameters were significantly different between mal es and females except ejection fraction and the left ventricular mass to en d-diastolic volume ratio. Agreement with published autopsy series, includin g gender differences, was excellent. This study presents normative MRI data that can be used for comparing individual patients and for further study o f right and left ventricular. Interaction.