Spatial dispersion analysis of LGE‐CMR for prediction of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis

Background Patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) are at increased risk of life‐threatening ventricular arrhythmias (VA). Current approaches to risk stratification have limited predictive value. Objectives To assess the utility of spatial dispersion analysis of late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE‐CMR), as a quantitative measure of myocardial tissue heterogeneity, in risk stratifying patients with CS for VA and death. Methods Sixty two patients with CS underwent LGE‐CMR. LGE images were segmented and dispersion maps of the left and right ventricles were generated as follows. Based on signal intensity (SI), each pixel was categorized as abnormal (SI ≥3SD above the mean), intermediate (SI 1–3 SD above the mean) or normal (SI