Quantitative Assessment of Regional Ventricular Function in Cardiac MR Images

We have previously proposed an efficient method for automated measurement of right and left ventricular volumes in MR images. This provided useful information for globally evaluating mechanical function of the heart. Namely, the proposed method was effective for discrimination of function normality and abnormality using the difference of ventricular volumes at end-diastole and end-systole states. In this paper, we describe an approach by applying the centerline method to characterizing regional ventricular function. With this method the location of wall motion abnormality can he identified. The results obtained demonstrate the power and potential of this method in assessment of ventricular function. This method of regional wall motion analysis, combined with our previously proposed method of global classification analysis, may provide more information for medical doctors to make more accurate diagnosis.