Purpose: To determine the accuracy of a 1.0 T MR system with a standard gradient system for quantification of left and right ventricular volumes. A porcine heart model in vitro was used.
Methods: In eight explanted porcine hearts the atria were removed and the aorta and the pulmonary truncus were cannulated. Defined volumes were injected into the ventricles. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): FFE-EPI (Multishot EPI) was used. Papillary muscles and trabeculae were excluded. True volumes and MR measurements were analysed separately for both ventricles and by both investigators.
Results: The correlation of the true volumes and MR measurements was >0.99. MRI was found to be investigator independent in assessing right and left ventricular volumes in vitro.
Conclusions: MRI at 1.0 T using standard equipment can be used to quantitate cardiac ventricular volumes in vitro with high accuracy.