RESEARCH ABSTRACT
Correlative Evaluation of Magnetic Resonance, Nuclear Medicine and Echocardiographic Imaging Modalities in Measurement of Cardiac Volumes and Functional Parameters. With F.D. Thomas, N. Szeverenyi, E. Scalzetti, A. Jaffe, R. Carlson, P. Randall, G. Tillapaugh-Fay, B. Hellwig
This study is to correlate the results of Magnetic Resonance Imaging determination of cardiac chamber volumes and their associated functional parameters, (such as stroke volumes, ventricular filling and contraction rates) with those obtained by routinely utilized clinical Echocardiography and Nuclear Medicine techniques.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging has the ability to acquire cardiac functional data quickly and without any known safety hazard. It thus potentially offers the ability to provide clinical data, specifically with respect to right heart function, that cannot be accurately obtained by the other modalities at the present times. The Magnetic Resonance techniques are exactly the same for evaluation of right and left cardiac chamber function, so that significant correlation with data obtained by echocardiography and nuclear medicine (currently accepted as non-invasive ''gold standards'') in regard to left ventricular function parameters implies that a similar level of clinical accuracy would apply for that of the right ventricle (despite no non-invasive gold standard being available for that structure).
This study aims to show that cardiac MRI in the clinical setting is equally accurate as other non-invasive imaging modalities for left ventricular function and a first line technique for right ventricular functional assessment in this institution.
MRI Evaluation of Maximal Temporal and Spatial Mensurability of Cardiac Chambers and Thoracic Great Vessels: A Comparison of Conventional and Echo-planar Techniques.
The ability to obtain accurate cyclic functional information of the cardiac chambers plays a continuing important clinical diagnostic role in the evaluation and monitoring of patients with a wide range of cardiac pathologies as well as patients with lung disease and patients embarking on and continuing with cardiotoxic chemotherapeutic regimes.
Specifically, functional parameters such as ejection fraction and wall motion characteristics, are an integral part of day to day cardiologic evaluation.
Specific aims:
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Evaluation of conventional (spin and gradient echo) and echo-planar pulse sequences for maximization of MR conspicuity of cardiac chambers and walls, as well as the cardio-thoracic vasculature, including great vessels and coronary vasculature.
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. Mensuration of the atrial and ventricular chamber volume changes during the cardiac cycle in volunteers.
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Measurement of ventricular (left and right) wall mass in normal volunteers.
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MR determination of wall thickening and motion during the cardiac cycle.
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Semiquantitative evaluation of intrachamber flow, valvular flow and great vessel flow (specifically, thoracic aorta and origins of carotid vasculature) characteristics during the cardiac cycle.