Search

Copyright of Czech Radiology / Ceska Radiologie is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Czech Radiology / Ceska Radiologie is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Czech Radiology / Ceska Radiologie is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Phase contrast sequence may be used to measure the flux of blood in vessels. The result might be, however, corrupted by many errors including partial volume effect (PVE), region of interest (ROI) contouring, and noise. In this study we aim to quantify the error and if possible to suggest a proper strategy to minimize it. Methods: Water flux was measured using a plastic flow phantom and changing the flow rate and spatial resolution which affects the PVE error. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of magnitude images was used to estimate error caused by noise and a comparison to a statistical error from several measurements was made. Water flux in vitro and flux through aortal valve and sinotubular junction in vivo was also measured with undersized and oversized ROIs. Results: The PVE subsides as spatial resolution improves and as the difference between magnitude signal from flowing and static tissue decreases. The error of flow through aortal valve was estimated to be 0.45%. Noise affects random error (estimation 0.05%) less then flow fluctuations (0.25%). The ROI size underestimation may lead to a severe underestimation of flow (over 10%) and a small underestimation in the case of aortal valve flow to a mild overestimation (5%). In general, an overestimation of ROI size is also erroneous (6%), although not as severe as underestimation. Conclusion: The most relevant source of error out of the three sources examined is ROI contouring with overestimation being recommended over underestimation. The error resulting from the PVE is small compared to ROI contouring error. The error caused by noise is negligible compared to flow fluctuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contributes to 30. years anniversary of the first installation of the very first Czechoslovak magnetic resonance system (MR). It makes an effort to map some important local and global mile stones over three decade's long exciting way of clinical and scientific application of this amazing method. Albeit the contribution has not typical educative character it explains some basic physical relations which considerably formed the effort and the development of all parts of MR system. Therefore also this article is structured to cover the development of all MR components in historical context. But not to staying only in history the next important aspect is to bring a survey about today's modern capabilities of MR systems as well as to introduce new perspectives for future years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves symptoms of heart failure (HF), morbidity and mortality in selected population. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-guided left ventricular (LV) lead placement on clinical outcomes and LV reverse remodelling in CRT recipients. Methods Patients with CRT indication were randomized for CMR-guided (CMR group) or electrophysiologically guided (EP group) LV lead placement between 2011 and 2014. The target site in the CMR group was defined as the most delayed, scar-free, in the EP group as the site with the longest interval between the QRS onset and local electrogram. The primary endpoint was a combination of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization. Secondary endpoints were New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class improvement ≥1, LV endsystolic diameter reduction >10%, B-type natriuretic peptide reduction by ≥30%. Results A total of 99 patients (47 in the CMR and 52 in the EP group) were enrolled. During a median follow-up of 47 months, primary composite endpoint occurred in 5 patients in the CMR group and 14 patients in the EP group (HR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.16–1.32). Patients with left bundle branch block and NYHA Class >2 had better clinical outcome in the CMR group (HR = 0.09; 95% CI: 0.01–0.75). Conclusions The use of CMR did not result in significant reduction of combined endpoint of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization in the total study population. Significant clinical benefit from CMR-guided procedure was observed in a subgroup of optimum CRT candidates with advanced HF. Highlights • The first randomized study investigating the role of CMR in CRT • The study failed to show the impact of CMR on event-free survival in total cohort. • A subgroup of patients with LBBB and NYHA >2 derived a clear benefit from the CMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]