Cardiac magnetic resonance tissue tracking in right ventricle: Feasibility and normal values

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate right ventricular (RV) strain in patients without identified cardiac pathology using cardiac magnetic resonance tissue tracking (CMR TT).

Methods: A total of 50 consecutive patients with no identified cardiac pathology were analyzed. RV longitudinal and circumferential strain was assessed by CMR TT. The age range was 4-81years with a median of 32years (interquartile range, 15 to 56years).

Results: Analysis time per patient was <5min. The peak longitudinal strain (E_ll) was -22.11±3.51%. The peak circumferential strains (E_cc) for global, basal, mid-cavity and apical segments were as follows: -11.69±2.25%, -11.00±2.45%, -11.17±3.36%, -12.90±3.34%. There were significant gender differences in peak E_cc at the base (P=0.04) and the mid-cavity (P=0.03) with greater deformation in females than in males. On Bland-Altman analysis, peak E_ll (mean bias, 0.22±1.67; 95% CI -3.05 to 3.49) and mid-cavity E_cc (mean bias, 0.036±1.75; 95% CI, -3.39 to 3.47) had the best intra-observer agreement and inter-observer agreement, respectively.

Conclusions: RV longitudinal and circumferential strains can be quickly assessed with good intra-observer and inter-observer variability using TT.

Keywords: Circumferential strain; Longitudinal strain; Normal values; Reproducibility; Right ventricular strain; Tissue tracking.