Validation of sub-segmental visual scoring for the quantification of ischemic and nonischemic myocardial fibrosis using late gadolinium enhancement MRI

Purpose To determine the accuracy and reproducibility of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) MRI scar quantification using visual sub‐segmental analysis (VSSA) versus signal threshold‐based analysis in ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Materials and Methods One‐hundred sixty‐one patients with abnormal LGE imaging underwent VSSA and signal threshold‐based analysis. VSSA was performed using a 68 sub‐segmental model. Signal threshold‐based analysis was performed using cutoffs of ≥2, ≥3, and ≥5 standard deviations (SD) above the mean signal of normal myocardium. Comparison of VSSA and signal threshold‐based analysis was performed by linear regression and Bland Altman plots. Results Seventy (44%) patients had ischemic scar, 76 (47%) had nonischemic scar, and 15 (9%) had a combined pattern. Correlation coefficients for VSSA versus signal threshold‐based analysis at ≥2, ≥3, and ≥5SD thresholds were r = 0.63, r = 0.79, r = 0.81 (P < 0.001) for all patients, r = 0.74, r = 0.81, r = 0.81 (P < 0.001) in those with ischemic scar, and r = 0.46, r = 0.69, r = 0.72 (P < 0.001) in those with nonischemic scar. Bland Altman analysis revealed no significant bias in total scar volume among all patients (−4.3 ± 7.9%), those with ischemic scar (−4.8 ± 7.8%), or those with nonischemic scar (−2.6 ± 7.6%). Intra‐observer and inter‐observer variability of the VSSA technique was excellent with a mean difference in total percent scar of 0.3% (−8.3–8.9%) and −0.4% (−9.5–8.5%), respectively. Conclusion A VSSA‐based model of myocardial scar quantification is accurate and reproducible in ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:1369–1376. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.