Left Ventricular Volume and Function Assessment Using a Reduced-Slice Approach in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Object To test the hypothesis that a reduced-slice geometric model can maintain left ventricular (LV) volumetry, thereby providing a rapid and reliable clinical alternative to conventional full-stack planimetry. Materials and Methods In a retrospective cohort of 342 patients with full-stack cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), nine geometric combinations (3, 4, or 5 short-axis (SAx) slices and a 2, 3, or 4 chambered long-axis (LAx) slice) were evaluated by decimating the original acquisitions. Volumes were calculated using trapezoidal mid-cavity approximations and a generalized prismoidal model for the basal region. This was compared to the full-stack reference using concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), repeated measures ANOVA, pairwise tests and Bayes factor log 10 (BF 10 ) analysis. Results The choice of LAx view influenced the accuracy approximately 50 times more than SAx slice count. For a 2ch + 5 SAx protocol, EF bias was just 0.83% (LoA: -6.18 to 7.84%), with a minimum detectable change (MDC) of 7.01%, compared to 8.7% reported for expert human readers, suggesting strong concordance (CCC>0.90) with full-stack. Bayesian analysis decisively supported 5 over 3 SAx slices (log 10 (BF 10 ) = 6.42). Conclusion This proposed model successfully minimizes scan time and breath-holds while maintaining clinical accuracy. Functional metric bias remains lower than scan-rescan variability.
Source: medRxiv
Institutions: Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7163049396