Tissue-Based Predictors of Impaired Right Ventricular Strain in Coronary Artery Disease: A Multicenter Stress Perfusion Study.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is known to impact prognosis, but its determinants in coronary artery disease are poorly understood. Stress cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has been used to assess ischemia and infarction in relation to the left ventricle (LV); the impact of myocardial tissue properties on RV function is unknown. METHODS: Vasodilator stress CMR was performed in patients with known coronary artery disease at 7 sites between May 2005 and October 2018. Myocardial infarction was identified on late gadolinium enhancement-CMR, and infarct transmurality was graded on a per-segment basis. Ischemia was assessed on stress CMR based on first-pass perfusion and localized by using segment partitions corresponding to cine and late gadolinium enhancement analyses. RV function was evaluated by CMR-feature tracking for primary analysis with a global longitudinal strain threshold of 20% used to define impaired RV strain (RVIS); secondary functional analysis via RV ejection fraction was also performed. RESULTS: A total of 2604 patients were studied, among whom RVIS was present in 461 patients (18%). The presence and magnitude of RVIS were strongly associated with LV dysfunction, irrespective of whether measured by LV ejection fraction or wall motion score (P<0.001 for all). Regarding tissue substrate, regions of ischemic and dysfunctional myocardium (ie, hibernating myocardium) and infarct size were each independently associated with RVIS (both P<0.001). During follow-up (median, 4.62 [interquartile range, 2.15-7.67] years), 555 deaths (21%) occurred. Kaplan-Meier analysis for patients stratified by presence and magnitude of RV dysfunction by global longitudinal strain and RV ejection fraction each demonstrated strong prognostic utility for all-cause mortality (P<0.001). RVIS conferred increased mortality risk (hazard ratio, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.11-1.66]; P=0.003) even after controlling for LV function, infarction, and ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: RVIS in patients with known coronary artery disease is associated with potentially reversible LV processes, including LV functional impairment due to ischemic and predominantly viable myocardium, which confers increased mortality risk independent of LV function and tissue substrate.

Left ventricular reverse remodeling after aortic valve replacement or repair in bicuspid aortic valve with moderate or greater aortic regurgitation.

Objective: Bicuspid aortic valve (AV) patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) differ from tricuspid AV patients given younger age, greater left ventricle (LV) compliance, and more prevalent aortic stenosis (AS). Bicuspid AV-specific data to guide timing of AV replacement or repair are lacking. Methods: Adults with bicuspid AV and moderate or greater AR who underwent aortic valve replacement or repair at our center were studied. The presurgical echocardiogram, and echocardiograms within 3 years postoperatively were evaluated for LV geometry/function, and AV function. Semiquantitative AS/AR assessment was performed in all patients with adequate imaging. Results: One hundred thirty-five patients (85% men, aged 44.5 ± 15.9 years) were studied (63% pure AR, 37% mixed AS/AR). Following aortic valve replacement or repair, change in LV end-diastolic dimension and change in LV end-diastolic volume were associated with preoperative LV end-diastolic dimension (ß = 0.62 Δcm/cm; 95% CI, 0.43-0.73 Δcm/cm; P < .001), and LV end-diastolic volume (ß = 0.6 ΔmL/mL; 95% CI, 0.4-0.7 ΔmL/mL; P < .001), respectively, each independent of AR/AS severity (P = not significant). Baseline LV size predicted postoperative normalization (LV end-diastolic dimension: odds ratio, 3.75/cm; 95% CI, 1.61-8.75/cm, LV end-diastolic volume: odds ratio, 1.01/mL; 95% CI, 1.004-1.019/mL, both P values < .01) whereas AR/AS severity did not (P = not significant). Indexed LV end diastolic volume outperformed LV end-diastolic dimension in predicting postoperative LV normalization (area under the curve = 0.74 vs 0.61) with optimal diagnostic cutoffs of 99 mL/m2 and 6.1 cm, respectively. Postoperative indexed LV end diastolic volume dilatation was associated with increased risk of death, transplant/ventricular assist device, ventricular arrhythmia, and reoperation (hazard ratio, 6.1; 95% CI, 1.7-21.5; P < .01). Conclusions: Remodeling extent following surgery in patients with bicuspid AV and AR relates to preoperative LV size independent of valve disease phenotype or severity. Many patients with LV end-diastolic dimension below current surgical thresholds did not normalize LV size. LV volumetric assessment offered superior diagnostic performance for predicting residual LV dilatation, and postoperative indexed LV end diastolic volume dilatation was associated with adverse prognosis.

Management of Adults With Anomalous Aortic Origin of the Coronary Arteries: State-of-the-Art Review.

As a result of increasing adoption of imaging screening, the number of adult patients with a diagnosis of anomalous aortic origin of the coronary arteries (AAOCA) has grown in recent years. Existing guidelines provide a framework for management and treatment, but patients with AAOCA present with a wide range of anomalies and symptoms that make general recommendations of limited applicability. In particular, a large spectrum of interventions can be used for treatment, and there is no consensus on the optimal approach to be used. In this paper, a multidisciplinary group of clinical and interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons performed a systematic review and critical evaluation of the available evidence on the interventional treatment of AAOCA in adult patients. Using a structured Delphi process, the group agreed on expert recommendations that are intended to complement existing clinical practice guidelines.

Management of Adults With Anomalous Aortic Origin of the Coronary Arteries: State-of-the-Art Review.

As a result of increasing adoption of imaging screening, the number of adult patients with a diagnosis of anomalous aortic origin of the coronary arteries (AAOCA) has grown in recent years. Existing guidelines provide a framework for management and treatment, but patients with AAOCA present with a wide range of anomalies and symptoms that make general recommendations of limited applicability. In particular, a large spectrum of interventions can be used for treatment, and there is no consensus on the optimal approach to be used. In this paper, a multidisciplinary group of clinical and interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons performed a systematic review and critical evaluation of the available evidence on the interventional treatment of AAOCA in adult patients. Using a structured Delphi process, the group agreed on expert recommendations that are intended to complement existing clinical practice guidelines.

Abnormal Mechanics Relate to Myocardial Fibrosis and Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Mitral Valve Prolapse.

BACKGROUND: The relation between ventricular arrhythmia and fibrosis in mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is reported, but underlying valve-induced mechanisms remain unknown. We evaluated the association between abnormal MVP-related mechanics and myocardial fibrosis, and their association with arrhythmia. METHODS: We studied 113 patients with MVP with both echocardiogram and gadolinium cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for myocardial fibrosis. Two-dimensional and speckle-tracking echocardiography evaluated mitral regurgitation, superior leaflet and papillary muscle displacement with associated exaggerated basal myocardial systolic curling, and myocardial longitudinal strain. Follow-up assessed arrhythmic events (nonsustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation). RESULTS: Myocardial fibrosis was observed in 43 patients with MVP, predominantly in the basal-midventricular inferior-lateral wall and papillary muscles. Patients with MVP with fibrosis had greater mitral regurgitation, prolapse, and superior papillary muscle displacement with basal curling and more impaired inferior-posterior basal strain than those without fibrosis (P<0.001). An abnormal strain pattern with distinct peaks pre-end-systole and post-end-systole in inferior-lateral wall was frequent in patients with fibrosis (81 versus 26%, P<0.001) but absent in patients without MVP with basal inferior-lateral wall fibrosis (n=20). During median follow-up of 1008 days, 36 of 87 patients with MVP with >6-month follow-up developed ventricular arrhythmias associated (univariable) with fibrosis, greater prolapse, mitral annular disjunction, and double-peak strain. In multivariable analysis, double-peak strain showed incremental risk of arrhythmia over fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Basal inferior-posterior myocardial fibrosis in MVP is associated with abnormal MVP-related myocardial mechanics, which are potentially associated with ventricular arrhythmia. These associations suggest pathophysiological links between MVP-related mechanical abnormalities and myocardial fibrosis, which also may relate to ventricular arrhythmia and offer potential imaging markers of increased arrhythmic risk.

Myocardial Contractile Mechanics in Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation: Multicenter Data Using Stress Perfusion Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) ischemia has been variably associated with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). Determinants of FMR in patients with ischemia are poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to test whether contractile mechanics in ischemic myocardium underlying the mitral valve have an impact on likelihood of FMR. METHODS: Vasodilator stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance was performed in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) at multiple centers. FMR severity was confirmed quantitatively via core lab analysis. To test relationship of contractile mechanics with ischemic FMR, regional wall motion and strain were assessed in patients with inducible ischemia and minimal (≤5% LV myocardium, nontransmural) infarction. RESULTS: A total of 2,647 patients with CAD were studied; 34% had FMR (7% moderate or greater). FMR severity increased with presence (P < 0.001) and extent (P = 0.01) of subpapillary ischemia: patients with moderate or greater FMR had more subpapillary ischemia (odds ratio [OR]: 1.13 per 10% LV; 95% CI: 1.05-1.21; P = 0.001) independent of ischemia in remote regions (P = NS); moderate or greater FMR prevalence increased stepwise with extent of ischemia and infarction in subpapillary myocardium (P < 0.001); stronger associations between FMR and infarction paralleled greater wall motion scores in infarct-affected territories. Among patients with inducible ischemia and minimal infarction (n = 532), wall motion and radial strain analysis showed impaired subpapillary contractile mechanics to associate with moderate or greater FMR (P < 0.05) independent of remote regions (P = NS). Conversely, subpapillary ischemia without contractile dysfunction did not augment FMR likelihood. Mitral and interpapillary dimensions increased with subpapillary radial strain impairment; each remodeling parameter associated with impaired subpapillary strain (P < 0.05) independent of remote strain (P = NS). Subpapillary radial strain (OR: 1.13 per 5% [95% CI: 1.02-1.25]; P = 0.02) and mitral tenting area (OR: 1.05 per 10 mm2 [95% CI: 1.00-1.10]; P = 0.04) were associated with moderate or greater FMR controlling for global remodeling represented by LV end-systolic volume (P = NS): when substituting sphericity for LV volume, moderate or greater FMR remained independently associated with subpapillary radial strain impairment (OR: 1.22 per 5% [95% CI: 1.02-1.47]; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with CAD and ischemia, FMR severity and adverse mitral apparatus remodeling increase in proportion to contractile dysfunction underlying the mitral valve.

Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2021 cases of SCMR and COVID-19 case collection series.

The Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) is an international society focused on the research, education, and clinical application of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). "Cases of SCMR" is a case series hosted on the SCMR website ( https://www.scmr.org ) that demonstrates the utility and importance of CMR in the clinical diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease. The COVID-19 Case Collection highlights the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the heart as demonstrated on CMR. Each case in series consists of the clinical presentation and the role of CMR in diagnosis and guiding clinical management. The cases are all instructive and helpful in the approach to patient management. We present a digital archive of the 2021 Cases of SCMR and the 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 Case Collection series of nine cases as a means of further enhancing the education of those interested in CMR and as a means of more readily identifying these cases using a PubMed or similar literature search engine.

Cardiac MRI predictors of adverse outcomes in adults with a systemic right ventricle.

AIMS: Predicting risk in individuals with a systemic right ventricle (SRV) remains difficult. We assessed the value of cardiac MRI (CMR) for predicting death, heart transplantation (HT), or need for a ventricular assist device (VAD) in adults with D-transposition of the great arteries (DTGA) post Mustard/Senning and in adults with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) at two large academic centres. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between December 1999 and November 2020, 158 adult patients with an SRV underwent CMR. Indexed right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDVI), indexed right ventricular end-systolic volume (RVESVI), right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF), and right ventricular mass (RV mass) were determined by a core laboratory. Receiver operating curves, area under the curve (AUC), and cut-points maximizing sensitivity and specificity for the endpoint for each CMR parameter were calculated. Over a median of 8.5 years, 21 patients (13%) met a combined endpoint of HT referral, VAD, or death. Each CMR parameter was significantly associated with the endpoint in both cohorts. The AUCs for RVEDVI, RVESVI, RVEF, and RV mass to predict the endpoint were 0.93, 0.90, 0.73, and 0.84 for DTGA and 0.76, 0.74, 0.71, and 0.74 for ccTGA, respectively. Optimized cut-points for RVEDVI were calculated for DTGA and ccTGA and were 132 and 126 mL/m2 , respectively. RVEDVI cut-points were simplified to 130 mL/m2 for survival analysis, which was significantly associated with survival in both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac MRI parameters are associated with an increased risk of death, HT, or VAD in patients with an SRV and should be considered to facilitate risk stratification.

Ischemia-Mediated Dysfunction in Subpapillary Myocardium as a Marker of Functional Mitral Regurgitation.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to test whether ischemia-mediated contractile dysfunction underlying the mitral valve affects functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) and the prognostic impact of FMR. BACKGROUND: FMR results from left ventricular (LV) remodeling, which can stem from myocardial tissue alterations. Stress cardiac magnetic resonance can assess ischemia and infarction in the left ventricle and papillary muscles; relative impact on FMR is uncertain. METHODS: Vasodilator stress cardiac magnetic resonance was performed in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease at 7 sites. Images were centrally analyzed for MR etiology/severity, mitral apparatus remodeling, and papillary ischemia. RESULTS: A total of 8,631 patients (mean age 60.0 ± 14.1 years; 55% male) were studied. FMR was present in 27%, among whom 16% (n = 372) had advanced (moderate or severe) FMR. Patients with ischemia localized to subpapillary regions were more likely to have advanced FMR (p = 0.003); those with ischemia localized to other areas were not (p = 0.17). Ischemic/dysfunctional subpapillary myocardium (odds ratio: 1.24/10% subpapillary myocardium; confidence interval: 1.17 to 1.31; p < 0.001) was associated with advanced FMR controlling for infarction. Among a subgroup with (n = 372) and without (n = 744) advanced FMR matched (1:2) on infarct size/distribution, patients with advanced FMR had increased adverse mitral apparatus remodeling, paralleled by greater ischemic/dysfunctional subpapillary myocardium (p < 0.001). Although posteromedial papillary ischemia was more common with advanced FMR (p = 0.006), subpapillary ischemia with dysfunction remained associated (p < 0.001), adjusting for posteromedial papillary ischemia (p = 0.074). During follow-up (median 5.1 years), 1,473 deaths occurred in the overall cohort; advanced FMR conferred increased mortality risk (hazard ratio: 1.52; 95% confidence interval: 1.25 to 1.86; p < 0.001) controlling for left ventricular ejection fraction, infarction, and ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic and dysfunctional subpapillary myocardium provides a substrate for FMR, which predicts mortality independent of key mechanistic substrates.

Novel Echocardiographic Algorithm for Right Ventricular Mass Quantification: Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and Clinical Prognosis Validation.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) provides a key remodeling index alterable by pulmonary hypertension. Although echocardiography commonly integrates linear wall thickness and chamber dimensions to quantify left ventricular remodeling, the utility of an equivalent right ventricular (RV)-based approach is unknown. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 200 patients undergoing transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) within 30 days (median = 3 days; interquartile range, 15 days), stratified by echocardiography-quantified pulmonary artery systolic pressure (<35, 35 to <55, 55 to <75, or ≥75 mm Hg). Echocardiographic assessment included RV linear dimensions in parasternal long-axis and apical four-chamber views and wall thicknesses in parasternal long-axis, four-chamber, and subcostal views. Subcostal wall thickness was integrated with chamber diameters to calculate RV mass, which was tested in relation to CMR-quantified RV mass and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Echocardiography-based quantification of all linear dimensions was feasible in 95% of patients (190 of 200). RV wall thicknesses in all orientations increased in relation to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (P < .001) and was greater among patients with, versus those without, CMR-evidenced RVH (P < .001 for all). Correlations between echocardiography and CMR were greatest for RV basal diameter (r = 0.73), RV subcostal wall thickness (r = 0.71), and global RV mass (r = 0.82; P < .001 for all). Echocardiography-derived global RV mass cutoffs were established in a derivation cohort and tested in a validation cohort. Results demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity (75.5% and 74.0%, respectively) in relation to CMR-quantified RVH. During follow-up (median, 4.2 years), 18% of patients (n = 36) died. Echocardiography-evidenced RVH (hazard ratio, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.09-3.88; P = .048) conferred similar mortality risk compared with RVH on CMR (hazard ratio, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.22-4.78; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiography-quantified RV parameters provide a robust index of RV afterload. Global RV mass calculated using a novel echocardiographic formula based on readily available linear indices yields good diagnostic performance for CMR-evidenced RVH and confers increased mortality risk.

Effect of Ventricular Pacing on Morbidity in Adults After Fontan Repair.

Implantation of a permanent pacemaker is a negative prognostic marker in patients with Fontan palliation; however, data delineating outcomes in adult patients with pacemaker requirements are lacking. We hypothesize that high ventricular pacing burden is associated with adverse outcomes in adult Fontan patients. We performed a retrospective review comprising adult patients with history of Fontan repair. A high burden of ventricular pacing was defined as ≥40% pacing. Major adverse clinical events (MACE) were defined as all-cause mortality or need for advanced cardiac therapies (ventricular assist device or heart transplant). A total of 145 adult patients with Fontan were studied for a median of 3.1 years. Twenty (14%) patients had implanted pacemakers with ≥40% ventricular pacing. Twelve events occurred in those with ≥40% ventricular pacing (incidence 60.0%) versus 11 in those without (incidence 8.8%). In multivariable analysis, ≥40% ventricular-pacing (odds ratio 12.51, confidence interval [CI] 3.56 to 43.83, p <0.001) was associated with MACE independent of initial Fontan type, New York Heart Association functional class at baseline, or history of atrial tachyarrythmia. In survival analysis, patients with ≥40% ventricular pacing had nearly 8 times the risk of MACE compared with those with a lower ventricular pacing burden (hazard ratio 7.79, 95% CI 2.56 to 23.66, p <0.001), whereas patients with atrial-only or <40% ventricular pacing burden had a trend toward higher hazard of MACE compared with those without permanent pacemaker (hazard ratio 3.38, 95% CI 0.92 to 12.47, p = 0.07) that did not meet statistical significance. These findings suggest that high ventricular pacing burden contributes to poor outcomes in the adult Fontan patients and bear consideration when determining optimal treatment of tachyarrhythmias in this population.

Clinical and echocardiographic features of paradoxical low-flow and normal-flow severe aortic stenosis patients with concomitant mitral regurgitation.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) coexists in a significant proportion of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), and portends inferior therapeutic outcomes. In severe AS, MR is thought to contribute to a low-flow state by decreasing forward stroke volume. We investigated concomitant MR on the clinical and echocardiographic features of patients with "paradoxical" low-flow (PLF) and normal-flow (NF) severe AS. Clinical and echocardiographic profiles of 886 consecutive patients with index echocardiographic diagnosis of severe AS (AVA < 1.0 cm2) were analysed retrospectively. All patients had preserved ejection fraction (LVEF ≥ 50%, n = 645), and were divided into PLF (stroke volume index, SVI < 35 mL/m2) and NF AS. They were then further subdivided based on the presence or absence of moderate-or-severe MR (msMR). A higher prevalence of concomitant msMR was observed in patients with PLF AS (14.9%; n = 33/221) compared to those with NF AS (8.0%; n = 34/424). Concomitant msMR was associated with echocardiographic features of increased diastolic dysfunction in both PLF AS and NF AS patients, as evidenced by increased LA diameter (PLF AS 52.9 ± 12.5 to 43.9 ± 8.9 mm; NF AS 29.6 ± 10.8 to 42.4 ± 8.8 mm; p < 0.001) and increased transmitral E/A ratio (PLF AS 1.26 ± 0.56 to 0.92 ± 0.43; NF AS 1.19 ± 0.63 to 0.94 ± 0.45; p = 0.004). Amongst patients with NF AS, msMR was additionally associated with increased E:e' ratio (25.5 ± 15.1 vs 19.3 ± 10.8; p = 0.025). Concomitant MR was more common in PLF AS compared to NF. Although possibly related to the MR, patients severe AS and MR appeared to have more severe diastolic dysfunction. Further studies are warranted to evaluate prognosis and guide management.

Free breathing three-dimensional cardiac quantitative susceptibility mapping for differential cardiac chamber blood oxygenation - initial validation in patients with cardiovascular disease inclusive of direct comparison to invasive catheterization.

BACKGROUND: Differential blood oxygenation between left (LV) and right ventricles (RV; ΔSaO2) is a key index of cardiac performance; LV dysfunction yields increased RV blood pool deoxygenation. Deoxyhemoglobin increases blood magnetic susceptibility, which can be measured using an emerging cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) technique, Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) - a concept previously demonstrated in healthy subjects using a breath-hold 2D imaging approach (2DBHQSM). This study tested utility of a novel 3D free-breathing QSM approach (3DNAVQSM) in normative controls, and validated 3DNAVQSM for non-invasive ΔSaO2 quantification in patients undergoing invasive cardiac catheterization (cath). METHODS: Initial control (n = 10) testing compared 2DBHQSM (ECG-triggered 2D gradient echo acquired at end-expiration) and 3DNAVQSM (ECG-triggered navigator gated gradient echo acquired in free breathing using a phase-ordered automatic window selection algorithm to partition data based on diaphragm position). Clinical testing was subsequently performed in patients being considered for cath, including 3DNAVQSM comparison to cine-CMR quantified LV function (n = 39), and invasive-cath quantified ΔSaO2 (n = 15). QSM was acquired using 3 T scanners; analysis was blinded to comparator tests (cine-CMR, cath). RESULTS: 3DNAVQSM generated interpretable QSM in all controls; 2DBHQSM was successful in 6/10. Among controls in whom both pulse sequences were successful, RV/LV susceptibility difference (and ΔSaO2) were not significantly different between 3DNAVQSM and 2DBHQSM (252 ± 39 ppb [17.5 ± 3.1%] vs. 211 ± 29 ppb [14.7 ± 2.0%]; p = 0.39). Acquisition times were 30% lower with 3DNAVQSM (4.7 ± 0.9 vs. 6.7 ± 0.5 min, p = 0.002), paralleling a trend towards lower LV mis-registration on 3DNAVQSM (p = 0.14). Among cardiac patients (63 ± 10y, 56% CAD) 3DNAVQSM was successful in 87% (34/39) and yielded higher ΔSaO2 (24.9 ± 6.1%) than in controls (p < 0.001). QSM-calculated ΔSaO2 was higher among patients with LV dysfunction as measured on cine-CMR based on left ventricular ejection fraction (29.4 ± 5.9% vs. 20.9 ± 5.7%, p < 0.001) or stroke volume (27.9 ± 7.5% vs. 22.4 ± 5.5%, p = 0.013). Cath measurements (n = 15) obtained within a mean interval of 4 ± 3 days from CMR demonstrated 3DNAVQSM to yield high correlation (r = 0.87, p < 0.001), small bias (- 0.1%), and good limits of agreement (±8.6%) with invasively measured ΔSaO2. CONCLUSION: 3DNAVQSM provides a novel means of assessing cardiac performance. Differential susceptibility between the LV and RV is increased in patients with cine-CMR evidence of LV systolic dysfunction; QSM-quantified ΔSaO2 yields high correlation and good agreement with the reference of invasively-quantified ΔSaO2.

Cardiac Tumors: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management.

OPINION STATEMENT: Cardiac masses and tumors are a heterogenous group of disorders and include primary tumors (both benign and malignant), metastatic disease, and numerous masquerades such as thrombus. Clinical presentation ranges from incidental discovery on imaging tests ordered for other reasons to life-threatening presentations such as cardiac tamponade, arrhythmia, obstruction, and systemic embolization. Of the available imaging modalities, cardiac MRI is generally the most useful for assessment and helps to delineate the relevant anatomy. Due to the technical difficulties and risk of biopsy of cardiac masses, a presumptive diagnosis is typically made using imaging techniques with surgery serving both a diagnostic and curative role. Because these conditions can vary widely in their management, we recommend early involvement of a multidisciplinary group which should include a cardiologist, cardiac surgeon, and oncologist.

Imaging of the right heart--CT and CMR.

Right ventricular (RV) structure and function is of substantial importance in a broad variety of clinical conditions. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and computed tomography (CT) each provide three-dimensional RV imaging, high-resolution evaluation of RV structure/anatomy, and accurate functional assessment without geometric assumptions. This is of particular significance for the RV, where complex geometry compromises reliance on indices derived from two-dimensional (2D) imaging planes. CMR flow-based imaging can be applied to right-sided heart valves, enabling evaluation of hemodynamic and valvular dysfunction that may contribute to or result from RV dysfunction. Tissue characterization imaging by both CMR and CT provides valuable complementary assessment of the RV. Changes in myocardial tissue composition provide a mechanistic substrate for RV dysfunction and cardiac arrhythmias. This review provides an overview of RV imaging by both CMR and CT, with focus on assessment of RV structure/function, flow, and tissue characterization. Emerging evidence and established guidelines are discussed in the context of imaging contributions to diagnosis, prognostic risk stratification and disease management of clinical conditions that impact the right ventricle.

Left ventricular geometric remodeling in relation to non-ischemic scar pattern on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling and myocardial fibrosis have been linked to adverse heart failure outcomes. Mid wall late gadolinium enhancement (MW-LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is well-associated with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), but prevalence in ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and association with remodeling are unknown. The population comprised patients with systolic dysfunction [LV ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 40 %)]. CMR was used to identify MW-LGE, conventionally defined as fibrosis of the mid-myocardial or epicardial aspect of the LV septum. 285 patients were studied. MW-LGE was present in 12 %, and was tenfold more common with NICM (32 %) versus ICM (3 %, p < 0.001). However, owing to higher prevalence of ICM, 15 % of patients with MW-LGE had ICM. LV wall stress was higher (p = 0.02) among patients with, versus those without, MW-LGE despite similar systolic blood pressure (p = 0.24). In multivariate analysis, MW-LGE was associated with CMR-quantified LV end-diastolic volume (p = 0.03) independent of LVEF and mass. Incorporation of clinical and imaging variables demonstrated MW-LGE to be associated with higher LV end-diastolic volume (OR 1.13, CI 1.004-1.27 per 10 ml/m(2), p = 0.04) after controlling for presence of NICM (OR 16.0, CI 5.8-44.1, p < 0.001). While more common in NICM, MW-LGE can occur in ICM and is a marker of LV chamber dilation irrespective of cardiomyopathic etiology.

P wave area for quantitative electrocardiographic assessment of left atrial remodeling.

BACKGROUND: Left atrial (LA) dilation provides a substrate for mitral regurgitation (MR) and atrial arrhythmias. ECG can screen for LA dilation but standard approaches do not assess LA geometry as a continuum, as does non-invasive imaging. This study tested ECG-quantified P wave area as an index of LA geometry. METHODS AND RESULTS: 342 patients with CAD underwent ECG and CMR within 7 (0.1±1.4) days. LA area on CMR correlated best with P wave area in ECG lead V1 (r = 0.42, p<0.001), with lesser correlations for P wave amplitude and duration. P wave area increased stepwise in relation to CMR-evidenced MR severity (p<0.001), with similar results for MR on echocardiography (performed in 86% of patients). Pulmonary arterial (PA) pressure on echo was increased by 50% among patients in the highest (45±14 mmHg) vs. the lowest (31±9 mmHg) P wave area quartile of the population. In multivariate regression, CMR and echo-specific models demonstrated P wave area to be independently associated with LA size after controlling for MR, as well as echo-evidenced PA pressure. Clinical follow-up (mean 2.4±1.9 years) demonstrated ECG and CMR to yield similar results for stratification of arrhythmic risk, with a 2.6-fold increase in risk for atrial fibrillation/flutter among patients in the top P wave area quartile of the population (CI 1.1-5.9, p = 0.02), and a 3.2-fold increase among patients in the top LA area quartile (CI 1.4-7.0, p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: ECG-quantified P wave area provides an index of LA remodeling that parallels CMR-evidenced LA chamber geometry, and provides similar predictive value for stratification of atrial arrhythmic risk.

Q wave area for stratification of global left ventricular infarct size: comparison to conventional ECG assessment using Selvester QRS-score.

OBJECTIVES: Left ventricular (LV) infarct size is a prognostic determinant after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). ECG data have been used to measure infarct size, but conventional approaches use multiparametric algorithms that have limited clinical applicability. This study tested a novel ECG approach - based solely on Q wave area - for calculation of LV infarct size. METHODS: Serial 12-lead ECGs were performed in AMI patients. Computerized software was used to quantify Q wave area (summed across surface ECG leads) and Selvester QRS-score components. ECG analysis was compared to the reference of myocardial infarct size quantified by delayed enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance. RESULTS: Overall, 158 patients underwent ECG during early (4±0.4) and follow-up (29±5 days) post-AMI time points. Selvester QRS-score and Q wave area increased stepwise with LV infarct size (P<0.001). Whereas both methods manifested marked increases at a threshold of 10% LV infarction, magnitude was greater for Q wave area (>2.5-fold) than Selvester QRS-score (