| 1. |
- Ahlander, Britt-Marie, 1954-
(author)
-
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Heart : Image quality, measurement accuracy and patient experience
- 2016
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Non-invasive diagnostic imaging of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) is frequently carried out with cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) or myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (MPS). CMR is the gold standard for the evaluation of scar after myocardial infarction and MPS the clinical gold standard for ischemia. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is at times difficult for patients and may induce anxiety while patient experience of MPS is largely unknown.Aims: To evaluate image quality in CMR with respect to the sequences employed, the influence of atrial fibrillation, myocardial perfusion and the impact of patient information. Further, to study patient experience in relation to MRI with the goal of improving the care of these patients.Method: Four study designs have been used. In paper I, experimental cross-over, paper (II) experimental controlled clinical trial, paper (III) psychometric crosssectional study and paper (IV) prospective intervention study. A total of 475 patients ≥ 18 years with primarily cardiac problems (I-IV) except for those referred for MRI of the spine (III) were included in the four studies.Result: In patients (n=20) with atrial fibrillation, a single shot steady state free precession (SS-SSFP) sequence showed significantly better image quality than the standard segmented inversion recovery fast gradient echo (IR-FGRE) sequence (I). In first-pass perfusion imaging the gradient echo-echo planar imaging sequence (GREEPI) (n=30) had lower signal-to-noise and contrast–to-noise ratios than the steady state free precession sequence (SSFP) (n=30) but displayed a higher correlation with the MPS results, evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively (II). The MRIAnxiety Questionnaire (MRI-AQ) was validated on patients, referred for MRI of either the spine (n=193) or the heart (n=54). The final instrument had 15 items divided in two factors regarding Anxiety and Relaxation. The instrument was found to have satisfactory psychometric properties (III). Patients who prior CMR viewed an information video scored significantly (lower) better in the factor Relaxation, than those who received standard information. Patients who underwent MPS scored lower on both factors, Anxiety and Relaxation. The extra video information had no effect on CMR image quality (IV).Conclusion: Single shot imaging in atrial fibrillation produced images with less artefact than a segmented sequence. In first-pass perfusion imaging, the sequence GRE-EPI was superior to SSFP. A questionnaire depicting anxiety during MRI showed that video information prior to imaging helped patients relax but did not result in an improvement in image quality.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
- Lindow, Thomas, et al.
(author)
-
Diagnostic Accuracy of the Electrocardiographic Decision Support – Myocardial Ischaemia (EDS-MI) Algorithm in Detection of Acute Coronary Occlusion
- 2020
-
In: European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 2048-8734 .- 2048-8726. ; 9:S1, s. 13-25
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Electrocardiographic Decision Support - Myocardial Ischaemia (EDS-MI) is a graphical decision support for detection and localization of acute transmural ischaemia. A recent study indicated that EDS-MI performs well for detection of acute transmural ischaemia. However, its performance has not been tested in patients with non-ischaemic ST-deviation. We aimed to optimize the diagnostic accuracy of EDS-MI in patients with verified acute coronary occlusion as well as patients with non-ischaemic ST deviation and compare its performance with STEMI criteria. We studied 135 patients with non-ischaemic ST deviation (perimyocarditis, left ventricular hypertrophy, takotsubo cardiomyopathy and early repolarization) and 117 patients with acute coronary occlusion. In 63 ischaemic patients, the extent and location of the ischaemic area (myocardium at risk) was assessed by both cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and EDS-MI. Sensitivity and specificity of ST elevation myocardial infarction criteria were 85% (95% confidence interval (CI) 77, 90) and 44% (95% CI 36, 53) respectively. Using EDS-MI, sensitivity and specificity increased to 92% (95% CI 85, 95) and 81% (95% CI 74, 87) respectively (p=0.035 and p<0.001). Agreement was strong (83%) between cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and EDS-MI in localization of ischaemia. Mean myocardium at risk was 32% (± 10) by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and 33% (± 11) by EDS-MI when the estimated infarcted area according to Selvester QRS scoring was included in myocardium at risk estimation. In conclusion, EDS-MI increases diagnostic accuracy and may serve as an automatic decision support in the early management of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome. The added clinical benefit in a non-selected clinical chest pain population needs to be assessed.
|
|
| 4. |
- Bidhult, Sebastian, et al.
(author)
-
Independent validation of metric optimized gating for fetal cardiovascular phase-contrast flow imaging
- 2019
-
In: Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. - : Wiley. - 1522-2594 .- 0740-3194. ; 81:1, s. 495-503
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE: To validate metric optimized gating phase-contrast MR (MOG PC-MR) flow measurements for a range of fetal flow velocities in phantom experiments. 2) To investigate intra- and interobserver variability for fetal flow measurements at an imaging center other than the original site.METHODS: MOG PC-MR was compared to timer/beaker measurements in a pulsatile flow phantom using a heart rate (∼145 bpm), nozzle diameter (∼6 mm), and flow range (∼130-700 mL/min) similar to fetal imaging. Fifteen healthy fetuses were included for intra- and interobserver variability in the fetal descending aorta and umbilical vein.RESULTS: Phantom MOG PC-MR flow bias and variability was 2% ± 23%. Accuracy of MOG PC-MR was degraded for flow profiles with low velocity-to-noise ratio. Intra- and interobserver coefficients of variation were 6% and 19%, respectively, for fetal descending aorta; and 10% and 17%, respectively, for the umbilical vein.CONCLUSION: Phantom validation showed good agreement between MOG and conventionally gated PC-MR, except for cases with low velocity-to-noise ratio, which resulted in MOG misgating and underestimated peak velocities and warranted optimization of sequence parameters to individual fetal vessels. Inter- and intraobserver variability for fetal MOG PC-MR imaging were comparable to previously reported values.
|
|
| 5. |
- Akil, Shahnaz, et al.
(author)
-
Qualitative assessments of myocardial ischemia by cardiac MRI and coronary stenosis by invasive coronary angiography in relation to quantitative perfusion by positron emission tomography in patients with known or suspected stable coronary artery disease
- 2020
-
In: Journal of Nuclear Cardiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1071-3581 .- 1532-6551. ; 27:6, s. 2351-2359
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: To relate findings of qualitative evaluation of first-pass perfusion-CMR and anatomical evaluation on coronary angiography (CA) to the reference standard of quantitative perfusion, cardiac PET, in patients with suspected or known stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods and Results: Forty-one patients referred for CA due to suspected stable CAD, prospectively performed adenosine stress/rest first-pass perfusion-CMR as well as 13N-NH3 PET on the same day, 4 ± 3 weeks before CA. Angiographers were blinded to PET and CMR results. Regional myocardial flow reserve (MFR) < 2.0 on PET was considered pathological. Vessel territories with stress-induced ischemia by CMR or vessels with stenosis needing revascularization had a significantly lower MFR compared to those with no regional stress-induced ischemia or vessels not needing revascularization (P < 0.001). In 4 of 123 vessel territories with stress-induced ischemia by CMR, PET showed a normal MFR. In addition, 12 of 123 vessels that underwent intervention showed normal MFR assessed by PET. Conclusion: The limited performance of qualitative assessment of presence of stable CAD with CMR and CA, when related to quantitative 13N-NH3 cardiac PET, shows the need for fully quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion and the use of invasive flow reserve measurements for CA, to confirm the need of elective revascularization.
|
|
| 6. |
- Carlsson, Marcus, et al.
(author)
-
Cardiac output and cardiac index measured with cardiovascular magnetic resonance in healthy subjects, elite athletes and patients with congestive heart failure
- 2012
-
In: Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. - 1097-6647. ; 14
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) enables non-invasive quantification of cardiac output (CO) and thereby cardiac index (CI, CO indexed to body surface area). The aim of this study was to establish if CI decreases with age and compare the values to CI for athletes and for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods: CI was measured in 144 healthy volunteers (39 +/- 16 years, range 21-81 years, 68 females), in 60 athletes (29 +/- 6 years, 30 females) and in 157 CHF patients with ejection fraction (EF) below 40% (60 +/- 13 years, 33 females). CI was calculated using aortic flow by velocity-encoded CMR and is presented as mean +/- SD. Flow was validated in vitro using a flow phantom and in 25 subjects with aorta and pulmonary flow measurements. Results: There was a slight decrease of CI with age in healthy subjects (8 ml/min/m(2) per year, r(2) = 0.07, p = 0.001). CI in males (3.2 +/- 0.5 l/min/m(2)) and females (3.1 +/- 0.4 l/min/m(2)) did not differ (p = 0.64). The mean +/- SD of CI in healthy subjects in the age range of 20-29 was 3.3 +/- 0.4 l/min/m(2), in 30-39 years 3.3 +/- 0.5 l/min/m(2), in 40-49 years 3.1 +/- 0.5 l/min/m(2), 50-59 years 3.0 +/- 0.4 l/min/m(2) and >60 years 3.0 +/- 0.4 l/min/m(2). There was no difference in CI between athletes and age-controlled healthy subjects but HR was lower and indexed SV higher in athletes. CI in CHF patients (2.3 +/- 0.6 l/min/m(2)) was lower compared to the healthy population (p < 0.001). There was a weak correlation between CI and EF in CHF patients (r(2) = 0.07, p < 0.001) but CI did not differ between patients with NYHA-classes I-II compared to III-IV (n = 97, p = 0.16) or patients with or without hospitalization in the previous year (n = 100, p = 0.72). In vitro phantom validation showed low bias (-0.8 +/- 19.8 ml/s) and in vivo validation in 25 subjects also showed low bias (0.26 +/- 0.61 l/min, QP/QS 1.04 +/- 0.09) between pulmonary and aortic flow. Conclusions: CI decreases in healthy subjects with age but does not differ between males and females. We found no difference in CI between athletes and healthy subjects at rest but CI was lower in patients with congestive heart failure. The presented values can be used as reference values for flow velocity mapping CMR.
|
|
| 7. |
- Carlsson, Marcus, et al.
(author)
-
Quantification and visualization of cardiovascular 4D velocity mapping accelerated with parallel imaging or k-t BLAST: head to head comparison and validation at 1.5 T and 3 T
- 2011
-
In: Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. - 1097-6647. ; 13:55
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Three-dimensional time-resolved (4D) phase-contrast (PC) CMR can visualize and quantify cardiovascular flow but is hampered by long acquisition times. Acceleration with SENSE or k-t BLAST are two possibilities but results on validation are lacking, especially at 3 T. The aim of this study was therefore to validate quantitative in vivo cardiac 4D-acquisitions accelerated with parallel imaging and k-t BLAST at 1.5 T and 3 T with 2D-flow as the reference and to investigate if field strengths and type of acceleration have major effects on intracardiac flow visualization. Methods: The local ethical committee approved the study. 13 healthy volunteers were scanned at both 1.5 T and 3 T in random order with 2D-flow of the aorta and main pulmonary artery and two 4D-flow sequences of the heart accelerated with SENSE and k-t BLAST respectively. 2D-image planes were reconstructed at the aortic and pulmonary outflow. Flow curves were calculated and peak flows and stroke volumes (SV) compared to the results from 2D-flow acquisitions. Intra-cardiac flow was visualized using particle tracing and image quality based on the flow patterns of the particles was graded using a four-point scale. Results: Good accuracy of SV quantification was found using 3 T 4D-SENSE (r(2) = 0.86, -0.7 +/- 7.6%) and although a larger bias was found on 1.5 T (r(2) = 0.71, -3.6 +/- 14.8%), the difference was not significant (p = 0.46). Accuracy of 4D k-t BLAST for SV was lower (p < 0.01) on 1.5 T (r(2) = 0.65, -15.6 +/- 13.7%) compared to 3 T (r(2) = 0.64, -4.6 +/- 10.0%). Peak flow was lower with 4D-SENSE at both 3 T and 1.5 T compared to 2D-flow (p < 0.01) and even lower with 4D k-t BLAST at both scanners (p < 0.01). Intracardiac flow visualization did not differ between 1.5 T and 3 T (p = 0.09) or between 4D-SENSE or 4D k-t BLAST (p = 0.85). Conclusions: The present study showed that quantitative 4D flow accelerated with SENSE has good accuracy at 3 T and compares favourably to 1.5 T. 4D flow accelerated with k-t BLAST underestimate flow velocities and thereby yield too high bias for intra-cardiac quantitative in vivo use at the present time. For intra-cardiac 4D-flow visualization, however, 1.5 T and 3 T as well as SENSE or k-t BLAST can be used with similar quality.
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
- Engblom, Henrik, et al.
(author)
-
A new automatic algorithm for quantification of myocardial infarction imaged by late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance : Experimental validation and comparison to expert delineations in multi-center, multi-vendor patient data
- 2016
-
In: Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1097-6647 .- 1532-429X. ; 18:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) using magnitude inversion recovery (IR) or phase sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR) has become clinical standard for assessment of myocardial infarction (MI). However, there is no clinical standard for quantification of MI even though multiple methods have been proposed. Simple thresholds have yielded varying results and advanced algorithms have only been validated in single center studies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop an automatic algorithm for MI quantification in IR and PSIR LGE images and to validate the new algorithm experimentally and compare it to expert delineations in multi-center, multi-vendor patient data. Methods: The new automatic algorithm, EWA (Expectation Maximization, weighted intensity, a priori information), was implemented using an intensity threshold by Expectation Maximization (EM) and a weighted summation to account for partial volume effects. The EWA algorithm was validated in-vivo against triphenyltetrazolium-chloride (TTC) staining (n = 7 pigs with paired IR and PSIR images) and against ex-vivo high resolution T1-weighted images (n = 23 IR and n = 13 PSIR images). The EWA algorithm was also compared to expert delineation in 124 patients from multi-center, multi-vendor clinical trials 2-6 days following first time ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (n = 124 IR and n = 49 PSIR images). Results: Infarct size by the EWA algorithm in vivo in pigs showed a bias to ex-vivo TTC of -1 ± 4%LVM (R = 0.84) in IR and -2 ± 3%LVM (R = 0.92) in PSIR images and a bias to ex-vivo T1-weighted images of 0 ± 4%LVM (R = 0.94) in IR and 0 ± 5%LVM (R = 0.79) in PSIR images. In multi-center patient studies, infarct size by the EWA algorithm showed a bias to expert delineation of -2 ± 6 %LVM (R = 0.81) in IR images (n = 124) and 0 ± 5%LVM (R = 0.89) in PSIR images (n = 49). Conclusions: The EWA algorithm was validated experimentally and in patient data with a low bias in both IR and PSIR LGE images. Thus, the use of EM and a weighted intensity as in the EWA algorithm, may serve as a clinical standard for the quantification of myocardial infarction in LGE CMR images. Clinical trial registration: CHILL-MI: NCT01379261. MITOCARE: NCT01374321.
|
|
| 10. |
- Engblom, Henrik, et al.
(author)
-
Fully quantitative cardiovascular magnetic resonance myocardial perfusion ready for clinical use : A comparison between cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography
- 2017
-
In: Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1097-6647 .- 1532-429X. ; 19:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Recent studies have shown that quantification of myocardial perfusion (MP) at stress and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) offer additional diagnostic and prognostic information compared to qualitative and semi-quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion distribution in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Technical advancements have enabled fully automatic quantification of MP using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) to be performed in-line in a clinical workflow. The aim of this study was to validate the use of the automated CMR perfusion mapping technique for quantification of MP using 13N-NH3 cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) as the reference method. Methods: Twenty-one patients with stable CAD were included in the study. All patients underwent adenosine stress and rest perfusion imaging with 13N-NH3 PET and a dual sequence, single contrast bolus CMR on the same day. Global and regional MP were quantified both at stress and rest using PET and CMR. Results: There was good agreement between global MP quantified by PET and CMR both at stress (-0.1 ± 0.5 ml/min/g) and at rest (0 ± 0.2 ml/min/g) with a strong correlation (r = 0.92, p < 0.001; y = 0.94× + 0.14). Furthermore, there was strong correlation between CMR and PET with regards to regional MP (r = 0.83, p < 0.001; y = 0.87× + 0.26) with a good agreement (-0.1 ± 0.6 ml/min/g). There was also a significant correlation between CMR and PET with regard to global and regional MPR (r = 0.69, p = 0.001 and r = 0.57, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: There is good agreement between MP quantified by 13N-NH3 PET and dual sequence, single contrast bolus CMR in patients with stable CAD. Thus, CMR is viable in clinical practice for quantification of MP.
|
|
