Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2010 Nov 11;12(1):65.
doi: 10.1186/1532-429X-12-65.

Reference left atrial dimensions and volumes by steady state free precession cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Alicia M Maceira  1 , Juan Cosín-Sales, Michael Roughton, Sanjay K Prasad, Dudley J Pennell
Affiliations

Reference left atrial dimensions and volumes by steady state free precession cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Alicia M Maceira et al. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson. .

Abstract

Background: Left atrial (LA) size is related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides high quality images of the left atrium with high temporal resolution steady state free precession (SSFP) cine sequences. We used SSFP cines to define normal ranges for LA volumes and dimensions relative to gender, age and body surface area (BSA), and examine the relative value of 2D atrial imaging techniques in patients.For definition of normal ranges of LA volume we studied 120 healthy subjects after careful exclusion of cardiovascular abnormality (60 men, 60 women; 20 subjects per age decile from 20 to 80 years). Data were generated from 3-dimensional modeling, including tracking of the atrioventricular ring motion and time-volume curves analysis. For definition of the best 2D images-derived predictors of LA enlargement, we studied 120 patients (60 men, 60 women; age range 20 to 80 years) with a clinical indication for CMR.

Results: In the healthy subjects, age was associated with LA 4-chamber transverse and 3-chamber anteroposterior diameters, but not with LA volume. Gender was an independent predictor of most absolute LA dimensions and volume, but following normalization to BSA, some associations became non-significant. CMR normal ranges were modeled and are tabled for clinical use with normalization, where appropriate, for BSA and gender and display of parameter variation with age. The best 2D predictors of LA volume were the 2-chamber area and 3-chamber area (both r = 0.90, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: These CMR data show that LA dimensions and volume in healthy, individuals vary significantly by BSA, with lesser effects of age and gender.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CMR analysis of atrial volumes. Atrial endocardial borders were delineated in all planes in all cardiac phases. The systolic descent and twist of the mitral valve was calculated from tracking of the valve motion on the long axis cines.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Measurement of LA parameters in the end-systolic phase of the cardiac cycle. Areas were measured in the 2, 4 and 3 chamber views (A2C, A4C, A3C). Longitudinal and transverse diameters were measured in the 2 and 4 chamber views (L2C, T2C, L4C, T4C) and the anteroposterior diameter in the 3 chamber view (APD)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Graphs showing agreement of the prolate ellipse and area-length methods as well as the new method.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Simek CL, Feldman MD, Haber HL, Wu CC, Jayaweera AR, Kaul S. Relationship between left ventricular wall thickness and left atrial size: comparison with other measures of diastolic function. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 1995;8:37–47. doi: 10.1016/S0894-7317(05)80356-6. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Rossi A, Cicoira M, Florea VG, Golia G, Florea ND, Khan AA, Murray ST, Nguyen JT, O'Callaghan P, Anand IS, Coats A, Zardini P, Vassanelli C, Henein M. Chronic heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: diagnostic and prognostic value of left atrial size. Int J Cardiol. 2006;110:386–92. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.08.049. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Rossi A, Cicoira M, Zanolla L, Sandrini R, Golia G, Zardini P, Enriquez-Sarano M. Determinants and prognostic value of left atrial volume with dilated cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002;40:1425–1430. doi: 10.1016/S0735-1097(02)02305-7. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Melenovsky V, Borlaug BA, Rosen B, Hay I, Ferruci L, Morell CH, Lakatta EG, Najjar SS, Kass DA. Cardiovascular features of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction versus nonfailing hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy in the urban Baltimore community: the role of atrial remodeling/dysfunction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007;49:198–207. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2006.08.050. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Dini FL, Cortigiani L, Baldini U, Boni A, Nuti R, Barsotti L, Micheli G. Prognostic value of left atrial enlargement in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and ischemic cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiol. 2002;89:518–23. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9149(01)02290-1. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types