Noninvasive quantitation of left ventricular wall thickening using cine magnetic resonance imaging with myocardial tagging

In conclusion, cine gradient-echo MRI with myocardial tagging, using the apical long-axis and 4- and 2-chamber views, can quantify segmental wall motion with excellent reproducibility in follow-up studies. The combination of these 3 apical views permits rapid, complete assessment of all myocardial segments in a manner comparable to the standard segments used in echocardiography. This quantitative technique will offer substantial advantages in pharmacologic stress MRI studies performed for the detection of coronary artery disease or the assessment of contractile reserve during dobutamine infusion, as well as in studies of ventricular remodeling and its relation to left ventricular function.