Detection and quantification of regional wall motion abnormalities using phase analysis of equilibrium gated cardiac studies.

Phase images obtained from equilibrium gated cardiac studies were evaluated for qualitative and quantitative information and correlated with contrast angiography in 33 patients. The left ventricular region of interest was obtained by a semiautomatic procedure which avoided underestimation of size but also eliminated extraventricular pixels. Phase images and phase distribution histograms were arranged in three standard displays which included the whole heart, isolated left ventricle, isolated abnormal areas, and quantification of maximum phase shift in the whole free border and in the inferolateral and posterolateral segments. Only the free left ventricular border was evaluated. According to contrast angiography results, four categories were obtained: normal, hypokinetic, akinetic, and dyskinetic. The best correlation with contrast angiography was found with the results obtained by dividing the left ventricular free border in two segments (r = 0.91). Scheffe's test for multiple comparisons showed significant differences between each of the four categories. Expressed in phase shifts from the histogram mode, the lower limits for the three abnormal categories were established at 30 degrees, 78 degrees, and 156 degrees respectively for hypokinetic, akinetic, and dyskinetic segments. For distinguishing normal from abnormal segments, sensitivity = 83%, specificity = 94%, and accuracy = 89%. The main reasons for discrepant results appeared to be small hypokinetic areas in an otherwise normal ventricle, very large area of hypokinesia, segments adjacent to an area of marked abnormality, and ventricles with asynchrony (wave-like motion). The method described provides an image which characterizes myocardial synchrony, generates clear boundaries for abnormal areas, and lends itself to quantification.