A 3D automated method using Laplace's equation to quantify myocardial thickening showed a strong negative correlation with standard visual scoring (r=-0.8, p<0.0001).
Observational (n=8)
A 3D automated method based on Laplace's equation can accurately quantify regional myocardial thickening from cardiac MRI, correlating well with expert visual scoring.
Effect estimate: r=-0.8
p-value: p=<0.0001
The aim of our work is to present a robust 3D automated method for measuring regional myocardial thickening using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based on Laplace's equation. Multiple slices of the myocardium in short-axis orientation at end-diastolic and end-systolic phases were considered for this analysis. Automatically assigned 3D epicardial and endocardial boundaries were fitted to short-axis and long axis slices corrected for breathold related misregistration, and final boundaries were edited by a cardiologist if required. Myocardial thickness was quantified at the two cardiac phases by computing the distances between the myocardial boundaries over the entire volume using Laplace's equation. The distance between the surfaces was found by computing normalized gradients that form a vector field. The vector fields represent tangent vectors along field lines connecting both boundaries. 3D thickening measurements were transformed into polar map representation and 17-segment model (American Heart Association) regional thickening values were derived. The thickening results were then compared with standard 17-segment 6-point visual scoring of wall motion/wall thickening (0=normal; 5=greatest abnormality) performed by a consensus of two experienced imaging cardiologists. Preliminary results on eight subjects indicated a strong negative correlation (r=-0.8, p<0.0001) between the average thickening obtained using Laplace and the summed segmental visual scores. Additionally, quantitative ejection fraction measurements also correlated well with average thickening scores (r=0.72, p<0.0001). For segmental analysis, we obtained an overall correlation of -0.55 (p<0.0001) with higher agreement along the mid and apical regions (r=-0.6). In conclusion 3D Laplace transform can be used to quantify myocardial thickening in 3D.
Prasad et al. (Thu,) conducted a observational in Myocardial wall thickening assessment (n=8). 3D automated method using Laplace's equation vs. Standard 17-segment 6-point visual scoring was evaluated on Correlation between average thickening obtained using Laplace and summed segmental visual scores (r=-0.8, p=<0.0001). A 3D automated method using Laplace's equation to quantify myocardial thickening showed a strong negative correlation with standard visual scoring (r=-0.8, p<0.0001).