A prospective randomized study comparing two frameless immobilization systems for cranial stereotactic radiotherapy.

Introduction: The Dual Shell Encompass Fibreplast™ System (DS-Encompass) by CQ Medical™ is validated for frameless immobilization in stereotactic brain radiotherapy. An alternative mask model has been proposed with the rear shell replaced by a Moldcare® cushion (M-Encompass). To validate the use of this model in our cranial stereotactic workflow method including HyperArc™, we performed a prospective randomized study comparing inter-and intrafractional motion and patients comfort between both masks. Materials & Methods: A prospective randomized study between DS-Encompass and M-Encompass was conducted involving 60 participants. Stratification between DS-Encompass and M-Encompass was carried out based on the fractionation scheme. Treatment plans were created with HyperArc™. During treatment, surface guidance was used for patient positioning and monitoring. A pre-treatment cone-beam CT (CBCT) was acquired to correct interfractional motion and a post-treatment CBCT was acquired to quantify the intrafractional motion. Patients reported comfort was analyzed with a Likert-scale at the end of the treatment. Unpaired t-tests were conducted to determine the level of significance. Results: No significant difference in interfractional translations is present. A significant difference is revealed in roll-axis rotation, where DS-Encompass allows for smaller deviations. Since interfractional motion can be corrected through daily CBCT-scans and 6D-couch corrections, they are clinically irrelevant. Intrafractional motion does not differ significantly and remains below 0.5 mm and 0.5° for both systems. There is no statistical difference in patient-reported comfort. Conclusion: We conclude that Encompass with Moldcare offers a safe alternative to Duall Shell Encompass for non-coplanar stereotactic brain radiotherapy. There is no significant difference in intrafractional motion nor difference in comfort levels.

Are offline ART decisions for NSCLC impacted by the type of dose calculation algorithm?

Introduction: Decisions for plan-adaptations may be impacted by a transitioning from one dose-calculation algorithm to another. This study examines the impact on dosimetric-triggered offline adaptation in LA-NSCLC in the context of a transition from superposition/convolution dose calculation algorithm (Type-B) to linear Boltzmann equation solver dose calculation algorithms (Type-C). Materials & Methods: Two dosimetric-triggered offline adaptive treatment workflows are compared in a retrospective planning study on 30 LA-NSCLC patients. One workflow uses a Type-B dose calculation algorithm and the other uses Type-C. Treatment plans were re-calculated on the anatomy of a mid-treatment synthetic-CT utilizing the same algorithm utilized for pre-treatment planning. Assessment for plan-adaptation was evaluated through a decision model based on target coverage and OAR constraint violation. The impact of algorithm during treatment planning was controlled for by recalculating the Type-B plan with Type-C. Results: In the Type-B approach, 13 patients required adaptation due to OAR-constraint violations, while 15 patients required adaptation in the Type-C approach. For 8 out of 30 cases, the decision to adapt was opposite in both approaches. None of the patients in our dataset encountered CTV-target underdosage that necessitated plan-adaptation. Upon recalculating the Type-B approach with the Type-C algorithm, it was shown that 10 of the original Type-B plans revealed clinically relevant dose reductions (≥3%) on the CTV in their original plans. This re-calculation identified 21 plans in total that required ART. Discussion: In our study, nearly one-third of the cases would have a different decision for plan-adaption when utilizing Type-C instead of Type-B. There was no substantial increase in the total number of plan-adaptations for LA-NSCLC. However, Type-C is more sensitive to altered anatomy during treatment compared to Type-B. Recalculating Type-B plans with the Type-C algorithm revealed an increase from 13 to 21 cases triggering ART.

Treatment of unresectable stage III NSCLC: Real world cohort study and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Until recently, the treatment for patients with locally advanced unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was combined chemoradiotherapy (CRT), delivered either concurrently (cCRT) or sequentially (sCRT). There is limited data on the outcomes and safety of CRT in a real-world setting. We conducted a real-world cohort analysis of our Leuven Lung Cancer Group (LLCG) experience with CRT for unresectable stage III NSCLC, prior to the era of consolidation treatment with immunotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this observational, real-world monocentric cohort study, a total of 163 consecutive patients were included. They were diagnosed with unresectable stage III primary NSCLC and treated with CRT between January 1st, 2011, and December 31st, 2018. Patient and tumor characteristics, treatment patterns, toxicity, and primary outcome parameters such as PFS, OS and pattern of relapse were captured. RESULTS: CRT was concurrent in 108 patients, sequential in 55. Overall tolerability was good, with two thirds of patients without severe adverse events such as severe febrile neutropenia, ≥ grade 2 pneumonitis, or ≥ grade 3 esophagitis. All registered adverse events were more frequent in the cCRT group compared to the sCRT group. Median PFS was 13.2 months (95% CI 10.3-16.2), median OS was 23.3 months (95% CI 18.3-28.0), with a 47.5% survival rate at 2 years, and 29.4% at five years. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a clinically relevant benchmark on the outcomes and toxicity of concurrent and sequential chemoradiotherapy in unresectable stage III NSCLC in a real-world setting in the pre-PACIFIC era.

Interval From Simulation Imaging to Treatment Delivery in SABR of Lung Lesions: How Long is Too Long for the Lung?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of delay between planning computed tomography (CT) used as a basis for treatment planning and the start of treatment (delay planning treatment [DPT]), on local control (LC) for lung lesions treated by SABR. Methods and Materials: We pooled 2 databases from 2 monocentric retrospective analysis previously published and added planning CT and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT dates. We analyzed LC outcomes based on DPT and reviewed all available cofounding factors among demographic data and treatment parameters. Results: A total of 210 patients with 257 lung lesions treated with SABR were evaluated. The median DPT was 14 days. Initial analysis revealed a discrepancy in LC as a function of DPT and a cutoff delay of 24 days (21 days for PET-CT almost systematically done 3 days after planning CT) was determined according to the Youden method. Cox model was applied to several predictors of local recurrence-free survival (LRFS). Univariate analysis showed LRFS decreasing significantly related to DPT ≥24 days (P = .0063), gross tumor volume, and clinical target volume (P = .0001 and P = .0022), but also with the presence of >1 lesion treated with the same planning CT (P = .024). LRFS increased significantly with higher biological effective dose (P < .0001). On multivariate analysis, LRFS remained significantly lower for lesions with DPT ≥24 days (hazard ratio, 2.113; 95% confidence interval, 1.097-4.795; P = .027). Conclusions: DPT to SABR treatment delivery for lung lesions appears to reduce local control. Timing from imaging acquisition to treatment delivery should be systematically reported and tested in future studies. Our experience suggests that the time from planning imaging to treatment should be <21 days.

The correlation between pre-treatment symptoms, acute and late toxicity and patient-reported health-related quality of life in non-small cell lung cancer patients: Results of the REQUITE study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To investigate the association between clinician-scored toxicities and patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL), in early-stage (ES-) and locally-advanced (LA-) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving loco-regional radiotherapy, included in the international real-world REQUITE study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinicians scored eleven radiotherapy-related toxicities (and baseline symptoms) with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4. HRQoL was assessed with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer core HRQoL questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30). Statistical analyses used the mixed-model method; statistical significance was set at p = 0.01. Analyses were performed for baseline and subsequent time points up to 2 years after radiotherapy and per treatment modality, radiotherapy technique and disease stage. RESULTS: Data of 435 patients were analysed. Pre-treatment, overall symptoms, dyspnea, chest wall pain, dysphagia and cough impacted overall HRQoL and specific domains. At subsequent time points, cough and dysphagia were overtaken by pericarditis in affecting HRQoL. Toxicities during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy and 3-dimensional radiotherapy had the most impact on HRQoL. Conversely, toxicities in sequential chemo-radiotherapy and SBRT had limited impact on patients' HRQoL. Stage impacts the correlations: LA-NSCLC patients are more adversely affected by toxicity than ES-NSCLC patients, mimicking the results of radiotherapy technique and treatment modality. CONCLUSION: Pre-treatment symptoms and acute/late toxicities variously impact HRQoL of ES- and LA-NSCLC patients undergoing different treatment approaches and radiotherapy techniques. Throughout the disease, dyspnea seems crucial in this association, highlighting the additional effect of co-existing comorbidities. Our data call for optimized radiotherapy limiting toxicities that may affect patients' HRQoL.

Treatment plan prediction for lung IMRT using deep learning based fluence map generation.

PURPOSE: Recently, it has been shown that automated treatment planning can be executed by direct fluence prediction from patient anatomy using convolutional neural networks. Proof of principle publications utilise a fixed dose prescription and fixed collimator (0°) and gantry angles. The goal of this work is to further develop these principles for the challenging lung cancer indication with variable dose prescriptions, collimator and gantry angles. First we investigate the impact of clinical applicable collimator angles and various input parameters. Then, the model is tested in a complete user independent planning workflow. METHODS: The dataset consists of 152 lung cancer patients, previously treated with IMRT. The patients are treated with either a left or a right beam setup and collimator angles and dose prescriptions adjusted to their tumour shape and stage. First we compare two CNNs with standard vs. personalised, clinical collimator angles. Next, four CNNs are trained with various combinations of CT and contour inputs. Finally, a complete user free treatment planning workflow is evaluated. RESULTS: The difference between the predicted and ground truth fluence maps for the fluence prediction CNN with all anatomical inputs in terms of the mean mean absolute error (MAE) is 4.17 × 10-4 for a fixed collimator angle and 5.46 × 10-4 for variable collimator angles. These differences vanish in terms of DVH metrics. Furthermore, the impact of anatomical inputs is small. The mean MAE is 5.88 × 10-4 if no anatomical information is given to the network. The DVH differences increase when a total user free planning workflow is examined. CONCLUSIONS: Fluence prediction with personalised collimator angles performs as good as fluence prediction with a standard collimator angle of zero degrees. The impact of anatomical inputs is small. The combination of a dose prediction and fluence prediction CNN deteriorates the fluence predictions. More investigation is required.

Overview of health-related quality of life and toxicity of non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving curative-intent radiotherapy in a real-life setting (the REQUITE study).

OBJECTIVES: Radiotherapy-induced toxicity may negatively impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This report investigates the impact of curative-intent radiotherapy on HRQoL and toxicity in early stage and locally-advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with radiotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy enrolled in the observational prospective REQUITE study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HRQoL was assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 questionnaire up to 2 years post radiotherapy. Eleven toxicities were scored by clinicians using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4. Toxicity scores were calculated by subtracting baseline values. Mixed model analyses were applied to determine statistical significance (p ≤ 0.01). Meaningful clinical important differences (MCID) were determined for changes in HRQoL. Analysis was performed on the overall data, different radiotherapy techniques, multimodality treatments and disease stages. RESULTS: Data of 510 patients were analysed. There was no significant change in HRQoL or its domains, except for deterioration in cognitive functioning (p = 0.01). Radiotherapy technique had no significant impact on HRQoL. The addition of chemotherapy was significantly associated with HRQoL over time (p <.001). Overall toxicity did not significantly change over time. Acute toxicities of radiation-dermatitis (p =.003), dysphagia (p =.002) and esophagitis (p <.001) peaked at 3 months and decreased thereafter. Pneumonitis initially deteriorated but improved significantly after 12 months (p =.011). A proportion of patients experienced meaningful clinically important improvements and deteriorations in overall HRQoL and its domains. In some patients, pre-treatment symptoms improved gradually. CONCLUSIONS: While overall HRQoL and toxicity did not change over time, some patients improved, whereas others experienced acute radiotherapy-induced toxicities and deteriorated HRQoL, especially physical and cognitive functioning. Patient characteristics, more so than radiotherapy technique and treatment modality, impact post-radiotherapy toxicity and HRQoL outcomes. This stresses the importance of considering the potential impact of radiotherapy on individuals' HRQoL, symptoms and toxicity in treatment decision-making.

Stereotactic robotic body radiotherapy for patients with oligorecurrent pulmonary metastases.

BACKGROUND: Our aim is to report treatment efficacy and toxicity of patients treated by robotic (Cyberknife®) stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for oligorecurrent lung metastases (ORLM). Additionally we wanted to evaluate influence of tumor, patient and treatment related parameters on local control (LC), lung and distant progression free- (lung PFS/Di-PFS) and overall survival (OS). METHODS: Consecutive patients with up to 5 ORLM (confirmed by FDG PET/CT) were included in this study. Intended dose was 60Gy in 3 fractions (prescribed to the 80% isodose volume). Patients were followed at regular intervals and tumor control and toxicity was prospectively scored. Tumor, patient and treatment data were analysed using competing risk- and Cox regression. RESULTS: Between May 2010 and March 2016, 104 patients with 132 lesions were irradiated from primary lung carcinoma (47%), gastro-intestinal (34%) and mixed primary histologies (19%). The mean tumor volume was 7.9 cc. After a median follow up of 22 months, the 1, 2 and 3 year LC rate (per lesion) was 89.3, 80.0 and 77.8% respectively. The corresponding (per patient) 1, 2 and 3 years lung PFS were 66.3, 50.0, 42.6%, Di-PFS were 80.5, 64.4, 60.6% and OS rates were 92.2, 80.9 and 72.0% respectively. On univariable analysis, gastro-intestinal (GI) as primary tumor site showed a significant superior local control versus the other primary tumor sites. For OS, significant variables were primary histology and primary tumor site with a superior OS for patients with metastases of primary GI origin. LC was significantly affected by the tumor volume, physical and biologically effective dose coverage. Significant variables in multivariable analysis were BED prescription dose for LC and GI as primary site for OS. The vast majority of patients developed no toxicity or grade 1 acute and late toxicity. Acute and late grade 3 radiation pneumonitis (RP) was observed in 1 and 2 patients respectively. One patient with a centrally located lesion developed grade 4 RP and died due to possible RT-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: SBRT is a highly effective local therapy for oligorecurrent lung metastases and could achieve long term survival in patients with favourable prognostic features.

Clinical Outcomes of 130 Patients with Primary and Secondary Lung Tumors treated with Cyberknife Robotic Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Authors report clinical outcomes of patients treated with robotic stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for primary, recurrent and metastatic lung lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 130 patients with 160 lesions were treated with Cyberknife SBRT, including T1-3 primary lung cancers (54%), recurrent tumors (22%) and pulmonary metastases (24%). The mean biologically equivalent dose (BED10Gy) was 151 Gy (72-180 Gy). Median prescribed dose for peripheral and central lesions was 3×20 Gy and 3×15 Gy, respectively. Local control (LC), overall survival (OS), and cause-specific survival (CSS) rates, early and late toxicities are reported. Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors influencing local tumor control. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 21 months. In univariate analysis, higher dose was associated with better LC and a cut-off value was detected at BED10Gy ≤ 112.5 Gy, resulting in 1-, 2-, and 3-year actuarial LC rates of 93%, vs 73%, 80% vs 61%, and 63% vs 54%, for the high and low dose groups, respectively (p = 0.0061, HR = 0.384). In multivariate analysis, metastatic origin, histological confirmation and larger Planning Target Volume (PTV) were associated with higher risk of local failure. Actuarial OS and CSS rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 85%, 74% and 62%, and 93%, 89% and 80%, respectively. Acute and late toxicities ≥ Gr 3 were observed in 3 (2%) and 6 patients (5%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our favorable LC and survival rates after robotic SBRT, with low rates of severe toxicities, are coherent with the literature data in this mixed, non-selected study population.

Stereotactic Robotic Body Radiotherapy for Patients With Unresectable Hepatic Oligorecurrence.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze local control (LC), liver progression-free survival (PFS), and distant PFS (DFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity in a cohort of patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with fiducial tracking for oligorecurrent liver lesions; and to evaluate the potential influence of lesion size, systemic treatment, physical and biologically effective dose (BED), treatment calculation algorithms and other parameters on the obtained results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Unoperable patients with sufficient liver function had [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-computed tomography and liver magnetic resonance imaging to confirm the oligorecurrent nature of the disease and to further delineate the gross tumor volume (GTV). An intended dose of 45 Gy in 3 fractions was prescribed on the 80% isodose and adapted if risk-related. Treatment was executed with the CyberKnife system (Accuray Inc) platform using fiducials tracking. Initial plans were recalculated using the Monte Carlo algorithm. Patient and treatment data were processed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test for survival analysis. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2015, 42 patients (55 lesions) were irradiated. The mean GTV and planning target volume (PTV) were 30.5 cc and 96.8 cc, respectively. Treatments were delivered 3 times per week in a median of 3 fractions to a PTV median dose of 54.6 Gy. The mean GTV and PTV D98% were 51.6 Gy and 51.2 Gy, respectively. Heterogeneity corrections did not influence dose parameters. After a median follow-up of 18.9 months, the 1- and 2-year LC/liver PFS/DFS/OS were 81.3%/55%/62.4%/86.9%, and 76.3%/42.3%/52%/78.3%, respectively. Performance status and histology had a significant effect on LC, whereas age (older than 65 years) marginally influenced liver PFS. Clinical target volume physical dose V45 Gy > 95%, generalized equivalent uniform dose (a = -30) > 45 Gy and a BED (α/ß = 10) V105 Gy > 96% showed statistically significant effect on the LC. Acute Grade 3 gastrointestinal (GI) and late Grade 2 GI and fatigue toxicity were found in 5% and 11% patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Favorable survival and toxicity results support the potential paradigm shift in which the use of SBRT in oligorecurrent liver disease could benefit patients with unresectable or resectable liver metastases.

Does an integrated boost increase acute toxicity in prone hypofractionated breast irradiation? A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The safety of a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) in combination with prone hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation (WBI) was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 167 patients were randomized between WBI with a sequential boost (SeB) or SIB. All patients were treated in prone position to 40.05Gy in 15 fractions to the whole breast. In the control arm, a SeB of 10Gy in 4 fractions (negative surgical margins) or 14.88Gy in 6 fractions (transsection) was prescribed. In the experimental arm a SIB of 46.8 or 49.95Gy (negative and positive surgical margins, respectively) was prescribed. RESULTS: Patient age was the only significantly different parameter between treatment arms with patients in the SIB arm being slightly older. In both arms, 6/83 patients developed moist desquamation. Grade 2/3 dermatitis was significantly more frequent in the SeB arm (38/83vs 24/83 patients, p=0.037). In the SIB and SeB arm, respectively, 36 patients (43%) and 51 patients (61%) developed pruritus (p=0.015). The incidence of oedema was lower in the SIB arm (59vs 68 patients), but not statistically significant (p=0.071). CONCLUSIONS: The primary endpoint, moist desquamation, was not significantly different between treatment arms.

The 2-Year Cosmetic Outcome of a Randomized Trial Comparing Prone and Supine Whole-Breast Irradiation in Large-Breasted Women.

PURPOSE: To report the 2-year cosmetic outcome of a randomized trial comparing prone and supine whole-breast irradiation in large-breasted patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: One hundred patients with a (European) cup size ≥C were included. Before and 2 years after radiation therapy, clinical endpoints were scored and digital photographs were taken with the arms alongside the body and with the arms elevated 180°. Three observers rated the photographs using the 4-point Harvard cosmesis scale. Cosmesis was also evaluated with the commercially available Breast Cancer Conservation Treatment.cosmetic results (BCCT.core) software. RESULTS: Two-year follow-up data and photographs were available for 94 patients (47 supine treated and 47 prone treated). Patient and treatment characteristics were not significantly different between the 2 cohorts. A worsening of color change occurred more frequently in the supine than in the prone cohort (19/46 vs 10/46 patients, respectively, P=.04). Five patients in the prone group (11%) and 12 patients in the supine group (26%) presented with a worse scoring of edema at 2-year follow-up (P=.06). For retraction and fibrosis, no significant differences were found between the 2 cohorts, although scores were generally worse in the supine cohort. The cosmetic scoring by 3 observers did not reveal differences between the prone and supine groups. On the photographs with the hands up, 7 patients in the supine group versus none in the prone group had a worsening of cosmesis of 2 categories using the BCCT.org software (P=.02). CONCLUSION: With a limited follow-up of 2 years, better cosmetic outcome was observed in prone-treated than in supine-treated patients.

Adaptive radiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, can we predict when and for whom?

BACKGROUND: Adaptive radiotherapy (ART) could be a tool to reduce toxicity and to facilitate dose escalation in stage III NSCLC. Our aim was to identify the most appropriate time and potential benefit of ART. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed volume reduction and dosimetric consequences of 41 patients who were treated with concurrent (cCRT) (n = 21) or sequential (sCRT) chemoradiotherapy to a median dose of 70 Gy, 2 Gy/F. At every treatment fraction a cone-beam CT (CBCT) was performed. The gross tumor volume (GTV-T) was adapted (exclusion of lymph nodes) to create the GTV-T-F1. Every fifth fraction (F5-F30), the GTV-T-F1 was adapted on the CBCT to create a GTV-T-Fx. Dose volume histograms were recalculated for every GTV-T-Fx, enabling to create lookup tables to predict the theoretical dosimetric advantage on common lung dose constraints. RESULTS: The average GTV reduction was 42.1% (range 4.0-69.3%); 50.1% and 33.7% for the cCRT and sCRT patients, respectively. A linear relationship between GTV-T-F1 volume and absolute volume decrease was found for both groups. The mean V5, V20, V30 and mean lung dose increased by 0.8, 3.1, 5.2 and 3.4%, respectively. A larger increase (p < 0.05) was observed for peripheral tumors and cCRT. Lookup tables were generated. CONCLUSION: ART offers the most beneficial dosimetric effects when performed around fraction 15, especially for patients with a large initial GTV-T treated by cCRT.

Salvage stereotactic body radiotherapy for patients with limited prostate cancer metastases: deferring androgen deprivation therapy.

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether repeated stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) of oligometastatic disease is able to defer the initiation of palliative androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with low-volume bone and lymph node metastases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with up to 3 synchronous metastases (bone and/or lymph nodes) diagnosed on positron emission tomography, following biochemical recurrence after local curative treatment, were treated with (repeated) SBRT to a dose of 50 Gy in 10 fractions. Androgen deprivation therapy-free survival (ADT-FS) defined as the time interval between the first day of SBRT and the initiation of ADT was the primary end point. ADT was initiated if more than 3 metastases were detected during follow-up even when patients were still asymptomatic or in case of a prostate specific antigen elevation above 50 ng/mL in the absence of metastases. Secondary end points were local control, clinical progression-free survival, and toxicity. Toxicity was scored using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. RESULTS: We treated 24 patients with a median follow-up of 24 months. Ten patients started with ADT resulting in a median ADT-FS of 38 months. The 2-year local control and clinical progression-free survival was 100% and 42%, respectively. Eleven and 3 patients, respectively, required a second and third salvage treatment for metachronous low-volume metastatic disease. No grade 3 toxicity was observed. CONCLUSION: Repeated salvage SBRT is feasible, well tolerated and defers palliative ADT with a median of 38 months in patients with limited bone or lymph node PCa metastases.

MR image analysis: Longitudinal cardiac motion influences left ventricular measurements.

BACKGROUND: Software for the analysis of left ventricular (LV) volumes and mass using border detection in short-axis images only, is hampered by through-plane cardiac motion. Therefore we aimed to evaluate software that involves longitudinal cardiac motion. METHODS: Twenty-three consecutive patients underwent 1.5-Tesla cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the entire heart in the long-axis and short-axis orientation with breath-hold steady-state free precession imaging. Offline analysis was performed using software that uses short-axis images (Medis MASS) and software that includes two-chamber and four-chamber images to involve longitudinal LV expansion and shortening (CAAS-MRV). Intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility was assessed by using Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS: Compared with MASS software, CAAS-MRV resulted in significantly smaller end-diastolic (156+/-48ml versus 167+/-52ml, p=0.001) and end-systolic LV volumes (79+/-48ml versus 94+/-52ml, p<0.001). In addition, CAAS-MRV resulted in higher LV ejection fraction (52+/-14% versus 46+/-13%, p<0.001) and calculated LV mass (154+/-52g versus 142+/-52g, p=0.004). Intraobserver and interobserver limits of agreement were similar for both methods. CONCLUSION: MR analysis of LV volumes and mass involving long-axis LV motion is a highly reproducible method, resulting in smaller LV volumes, higher ejection fraction and calculated LV mass.