Original Research

Fourier analysis of STimulated echoes (FAST) for the quantitative analysis of left ventricular twist

  1. Meral Reyhan MS1,2,*,
  2. Yutaka Natsuaki PhD3,
  3. Daniel B. Ennis PhD1,2,4

Article first published online: 8 NOV 2011

DOI: 10.1002/jmri.22863

Issue

Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Volume 35, Issue 3, pages 587–593, March 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Reyhan, M., Natsuaki, Y. and Ennis, D. B. (2012), Fourier analysis of STimulated echoes (FAST) for the quantitative analysis of left ventricular twist. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging, 35: 587–593. doi: 10.1002/jmri.22863

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA

  2. 2

    Biomedical Physics Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA

  3. 3

    Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. Los Angeles, California, USA

  4. 4

    Biomedical Engineering Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA

*Department of Radiological Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Imaging, Peter V. Ueberroth Building, Suite 1417, 10945 LeConte Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095-7206

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 14 FEB 2012
  2. Article first published online: 8 NOV 2011
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 30 SEP 2011
  4. Manuscript Received: 3 MAY 2011

Funded by

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)/NHLBI. Grant Number: K99-R00 HL-087614

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Keywords:

  • tagging;
  • twist;
  • image processing;
  • left ventricle

Abstract

Purpose:

To validate a novel method for the rapid and facile quantification of left ventricular (LV) twist from tagged magnetic resonance images and demonstrate the potential clinical utility in a series of 20 healthy volunteers.

Materials and Methods:

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) short-axis images were acquired with tissue tagging in 20 healthy subjects and six canines. The tagged images were processed using a novel Fourier Analysis of the STimulated echoes (FAST) method, which uses a series of Fourier-space operations to measure LV twist with limited user interaction. A subset of eight healthy subjects and the canine data were compared to results from previously validated “gold standard” software (FindTags). Interobserver and intraobserver coefficients of variation (CVINTER and CVINTRA), linear regression, and Bland–Altman analyses were used to assess agreement between observers and methods.

Results:

CVINTRA for peak systolic twist (2.9% and 2.6%) and CVINTER (4.3% and 4.2%) were all small. Linear regression analysis of the FAST and FindTags twist values indicated very good agreement in healthy subjects (R = 0.91) and in canines (R = 0.95). Bland–Altman comparison of the FAST and FindTags twist results indicated excellent agreement in healthy subjects (bias of −0.5°, 95% confidence intervals (−4.3°, 4.3°)) and canines (bias of 0.2°, 95% confidence intervals (−2.7°, 3.1°)). Peak systolic twist in healthy subjects averaged 10.5 ± 1.9° degrees.

Conclusion:

The FAST method for quantifying LV twist produces results that are not significantly different from the current “gold standard” in a fraction of the user interaction time and has demonstrated feasibility in human subjects. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;35:587-593. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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