Cine-MR Fourier phase imaging for quantification of regional wall asynergy in patients with anterior myocardial infarction.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether Fourier analysis of cine-MR could detect wall motion abnormalities in patients with myocardial infarction.

Methods: Ten patients with anterior myocardial infarction (seven men and three women; mean age, 58 +/- 16 years) were compared with six control subjects (four men and two women; mean age, 49 +/- 24 years). Gradient echo cardiac cine-MR slices were transformed using a commercially available Fourier algorithm to obtain phase angles of endocardial segments. Mean phase angle and phase dispersion (i.e., SD around the mean) were calculated. Segmental wall motion was evaluated using a 16-segment model and correlated to Fourier phase analysis.

Results: Mean phase angle and phase dispersion were increased in patients compared with control subjects (respectively, 191 degrees +/- 23 degrees vs. 161 degrees +/- 25 degrees, P < 0.0001 and 21 degrees +/- 10 degrees vs. 11 degrees +/- 8 degrees, P = 0.0007). Analysis of variance showed a significant increased dispersion on basal slices (P = 0.002) mostly due to flow-void and entry slice phenomenon.

Conclusions: Fourier phase analysis of cardiac cine-MR is feasible and allows the evaluation of ventricular asynergy on the basis of endocardial wall motion.