Evaluation of cardiac structures and function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with magnetic resonance imaging

ObjectiveTo assess the capability of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in evaluating the cardiac structures and function in the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM).MethodsFourteen healthy volunteers and eighteen cases with HCM verified by history, clinical presentation, electrocardiogram and echocardiography(ECG) were performed with MRI. The myocardial thickness of interventricular septum at the basal segment and that of posterolateral free wall of the left ventricle(LV) were measured. Some indexes for evaluating cardiac function were measured using ARGUS auto-quantitative program.ResultsThe myocardial thickness of septum at the basal segment had significant difference between the HCM patients and the healthy volunteers. There was no significant difference between MRI and ECG in examining end-diastolic volume, ejection fraction of the LV.ConclusionMRI can fully provide more information on the abnormalities of cardiac anatomy and function; thus, it is of great value in clinical application.