Post-Processing and Workflow
.jpg "Moritz C. Halfmann, MD photo")
Moritz C. Halfmann, MD
Radiology Resident
University Medical Center Mainz
Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Moritz C. Halfmann, MD
Radiology Resident
University Medical Center Mainz
Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Luuk H.G.A Hopman
PhD Student
Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Körperich Hermann
Scientist
Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, Germany
Janke Salatzki, MD
Cardiology resident
University Medical Center Heidelberg
Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Edyta Blaszczyk, MD
Dr
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Tilman Emrich, MD
Junior Consultant
University Medical Center Mainz
Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Strain parameters have been under scrutiny for their reproducibility and generalizability. This multicenter study evaluated interobserver agreement of a simplified rapid-strain algorithm depending solely on longitudinal ventricular shortening in a real-world setting.
Methods:
A total of 4 sites each retrospectively selected 20 patients and 20 healthy controls who had undergone cardiac MRI at their respective centers using locally available scanners (2 scanner manufacturers) with respective field strengths (1.5/3T) and imaging protocols. Strains were evaluated at each site and independently re-evaluated by a separate corelab. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altmann plots were used to asses interobserver agreement for each center and globally.
Results:
ICCs demonstrated strong-to-excellent agreement between sites for left ventricular rapid strains (ICC ≥0.95 for all sites). In addition, there was a strong-to-excellent correlation between established and rapid ventricular longitudinal strain measurements (r= 0.89). Regression analyses showed that neither field strength nor scanner vendor were significant confounders for the simplified ventricular strain assessments.
Conclusion:
Despite different scanner manufacturers, field strengths and local imaging protocols, the simplified rapid ventricular and atrial strain algorithm could reliably assess left ventricular strain longitudinal strain.