Reliability of the evaluation for left ventricular ejection fraction by ECG-gated multi-detector CT (MDCT): comparison with biplane cine left ventriculography.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability of measurement for left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by ECG-gated multi-detector CT (MDCT) comparing with biplane cine left ventriculography that is current gold standard. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The authors reviewed the data from 15 patients who were referred for coronary CT angiography for clinical indications and underwent cardiac catheterization within 14 days. Coronary CTA studies were performed on MDCT Somatom Sensation 16, Siemens, Germany, Slice thickness 1 mm, Slice collimation 0. 75 mm, and Pitch 0. 3. L VEF were measured with MDCTby Simpson s method and compared with values measured by biplane area length method from cardiac catheterization. The L VEF from both techniques were compared using intraclass correlation power analysis (SPSS analysis software). RESULTS: The study population consisted with six men and nine women with a mean age of 54+/-10 years. The LVEF measured from MDCT and cine ventriculography were 54.7 +/-10% and 56. 3+/-10%, respectively. LVEF measured with MDCT by interpreter I and interpreter 2 was significantly correlated with L VEF measured with biplane cine ventriculography (ICC= 0.99 and 0.98, respectively). The interobserver reliability was excellent with ICC = 0.9. CONCLUSION: LVEF measurement with MDCT during coronary CT angiography can be performed easily, very accurately, and compare well with measures taken from biplane cine left ventriculography.