Reproducibility of MRI measurements of right ventricular size and function in patients with normal and dilated ventricles

PURPOSE: To determine the inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived measurements of right ventricular (RV) mass, volume, and function in patients with normal and dilated ventricles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CMR studies of 60 patients in three groups were studied: a normal RV group (N = 20) and two groups with RV dilation-atrial septal defect (ASD) (N = 20) and repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) (N = 20). Two independent observers analyzed each study on two separate occasions. Inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of biventricular mass, volume, ejection fraction (EF), and stroke volume (SV) measurements were calculated. RESULTS: High intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were found for interobserver (ICC = 0.94-0.99) and intraobserver (ICC = 0.96-0.99) comparisons of RV and left ventricular (LV) mass, volume, and SV measurements. RV and LV EF measurements were less reproducible (ICC = 0.79-0.87). RV mass measurements were significantly less correlated than the respective LV measurements. Small but statistically significant differences in correlation were noted in RV measurements across groups. CONCLUSION: Except for RV mass, inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of RV size and function measurements is high and generally comparable to that in the LV in patients with both normal and dilated RV.