Cardiac magnetic resonance tissue tracking in right ventricle::Feasibility and normal values

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate right ventricular (RV) strain in patients without identified cardiac pathology using cardiac magnetic resonance tissue tracking (CMR TT).Methods: A total of 50 consecutive patients with no identified cardiac pathology were analyzed. RV longitudinal and circumferential strain was assessed by CMR TT. The age range was 4–81 years with a median of 32 years (interquartile range, 15 to 56 years).Results: Analysis time per patient was < 5 min. The peak longitudinal strain (Ell) was − 22.11 ± 3.51%. The peak circumferential strains (Ecc) for global, basal, mid-cavity and apical segments were as follows: − 11.69 ± 2.25%, − 11.00 ± 2.45%, − 11.17 ± 3.36%, − 12.90 ± 3.34%. There were significant gender differences in peak Ecc at the base (P = 0.04) and the mid-cavity (P = 0.03) with greater deformation in females than in males. On Bland-Altman analysis, peak Ell (mean bias, 0.22 ± 1.67; 95% CI − 3.05 to 3.49) and mid-cavity Ecc (mean bias, 0.036 ± 1.75; 95% CI, − 3.39 to 3.47) had the best intra-observer agreement and inter-observer agreement, respectively.Conclusions: RV longitudinal and circumferential strains can be quickly assessed with good intra-observer and inter-observer variability using TT