Comparison of myocardial velocities obtained with magnetic resonance phase velocity mapping and tissue doppler imaging in normal subjects and patients with left ventricular dyssynchrony

PURPOSE: To compare longitudinal myocardial velocity and time to peak longitudinal velocity obtained with magnetic resonance phase velocity mapping (MR-PVM) and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), and to assess the reproducibility of each method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Longitudinal myocardial velocity was measured by TDI and MR-PVM in 10 normal volunteers and 10 patients with dyssynchrony. The reproducibility of MR-PVM and TDI was assessed on repeated measurements in the 10 normal volunteers. RESULTS: MR and TDI measurements of longitudinal myocardial velocity correlated well (r = 0.86) in both normal subjects and patients with dyssynchrony. However, myocardial velocities measured with MR consistently exceeded velocities measured with TDI. MR and TDI agreed strongly in measuring the time to peak velocity (r = 0.97). The reproducibility of TDI and MR-PVM appeared similar in measuring peak velocities (13.1% vs. 11.0%, respectively; P = NS) and time to peak velocity (9.1% vs. 5.7%, respectively; P = NS). CONCLUSION: Excellent correlation and reproducibility were observed between MR-PVM and TDI in measuring longitudinal myocardial velocity and time to peak velocity in both normal subjects and patients with dyssynchrony.