Background: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction ensues due to rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS). The evaluation of RV function is clinically important for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for patients with different degrees of RMS. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the 64-slice multi-detector row computed tomography (64-slice MDCT) can assess the RV function in RMS with high accuracy and reproducibility when compared to MR imaging (MRI).
Methods: Right ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (RV-EDV and RV-ESV), stroke volume (RV-SV), ejection fraction (RV-EF), cardiac output (RV-CO), and wall mass (RV-Mass) were measured with dedicated cardiac analysis software on 64-slice MDCT and compared with values measured with MRI in 43 consecutive patients with RMS. Agreement between MRI and 64-MDCT results were compared with Bland and Altman analysis and linear regression analysis. Repeated measurements were performed to determine intraobserver and interobserver variability.
Results: No significant differences were revealed in calculated RV function parameters between the two methods. RV-EDV, RV-ESV, RV-SV, RV-EF, RV-CO, and RV-Mass by 64-slice MDCT were similar to those by MRI (P > 0.05). There were good correlations (r = 0.98, 0.97, 0.96, 0.96, 0.95 and 0.77, respectively) and close agreement (bias = -0.2 ml, -1.0 ml, 0.8 ml, 0.5%, 26.1 ml, and 0.5 g, respectively, P > 0.05). The variability in 64-slice MDCT measurements was similar to that in MRI values.
Conclusion: ECG-gated 64-slice MDCT could assess the RV function in RMS with high accuracy and reproducibility when compared to MRI.