4D Flow Vorticity Visualization Predicts Regions of Quantitative Flow Inconsistency for Optimal Blood Flow Measurement

Overview

Journal Radiol Cardiothorac Imaging

Specialty Cardiology & Vascular Diseases

Date 2020 Jul 28

PMID 32715299

Citations 9

Authors

Francisco J Contijoch

Michael Horowitz

Evan Masutani

Seth Kligerman

Albert Hsiao

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate whether automated vorticity mapping four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI can identify regions of quantitative flow inconsistency.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, 35 consecutive patients who underwent MR angiography with 4D flow MRI at 3.0 T from December 2017 to October 2018 were analyzed using a -based technique for vorticity visualization and quantification. The patients were aged 58.6 years ± 14.4 (standard deviation), 12 were women, 18 had ascending aortic aneurysms (maximal diameter > 4.0 cm), and 10 had bicuspid aortic valves. Flow measurements were made in the ascending aorta (aAo), mid-descending aorta, main pulmonary artery, and superior vena cava. Statistical tests included tests and tests with a type I error threshold (α) of .05.

Results: The 35 patients were visually classified as having no ( = 9), mild ( = 8), moderate ( = 11), or severe vorticity ( = 7). Across all patients, standard deviation of cardiac output in the aAo (0.58 L/min ± 0.45) was significantly ( < .001) higher than in the pulmonary arteries (0.15 L/min ± 0.10) and descending aorta and superior vena cava (0.14 L/min ± 0.12). The standard deviation of cardiac output observed in the aAo was significantly greater ( < .01) in patients with moderate or severe vorticity (0.73 L/min ± 0.55) than in those with none or mild vorticity (0.44 L/min ± 0.26).

Conclusion: Cardiac output and blood flow are essential MRI measurements in the evaluation of structural heart disease. Vorticity visualization may be used to help guide optimal location for flow quantification.© RSNA, 2020See also the commentary by Markl in this issue.

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