Reliability of the Evaluation for Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction by ECG-Gated Multi-Detector CT (MDCT): Comparison with Biplane Cine Left Ventriculography
Narumol Chaosuwannakit MD*, Pairoj Rerkpattanapipat MD, FACC, FACP, FASE*, Somjai Wangsuphachart MD*, Suphot Srimahachota MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University ** Cardiac Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital
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.
Materials and Methods : 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. LVEF were measured with MDCT by Simpson’s method and compared with
values measured by biplane area length method from cardiac catheterization. The LVEF 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 1 and interpreter 2 was significantly correlated with LVEF 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.
Keywords : Left ventricular ejection fraction, Ejection fraction, Cardiac CT, MDCT
