Evaluation of left ventricular volumes measured by magnetic resonance imaging

Left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were determined in 17 patients with different levels left ventricular function by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A 1.5 Tesla Magnet was used obtaining ECG triggered single and multiple slices. Calculated cardiac outputs were compared with those measured simultaneously by a classical physiological indicator dilution technique. There was good agreement between cardiac output as measured by MRI and the indicator dilution method, when the multislice technique was used (r=0.87,p<0.001). A poor correlation between the two methods was seen when the single slice technique used (r>0.06,p>0.80). The results indicate that MRI is a reliable method for left ventricular volume determination when the multislice technique is used.