Comparison between visual grading and planimetric quantification of microvascular obstruction extent assessment in reperfused acute myocardial infarction.

Abstract

Current methods for infarct size and microvascular obstruction (MVO) quantification by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging rely on planimetry. This method is time-consuming. We sought to evaluate a direct assessment of MVO severity based on visual evaluation and to compare it to a reference method. CMR was performed in 112 consecutive patients after reperfused myocardial infarction. MVO was estimated by direct visual assessment based on a three-grade severity scale (MVO 1, mild; MVO 2, moderate; MVO 3, severe) on late gadolinium-enhancement (LGE). MVO was present in 69 patients (61.6 %). Quantitative MVO extent significantly increased accordingly to visual MVO grading (p < 0.01). Correlation between visual grading and quantitative assessment was excellent (r = 0.92, IQR 0.88-0.95, p < 0.001). CMR inter- and intraobserver variability for visual MVO evaluation was low (κ = 0.93 and κ = 0.96, respectively), whereas quantitative MVO assessment suffered from moderate agreement (interobserver, bias = -0.81 ± 1.8 g LV; intraobserver, -0.83 ± 2.1 g LV). Visual evaluation was significantly faster than reference method (0.65 ± 0.37 vs. 10.2 ± 2.9 min, p < 0.0001). MVO severity based on direct visual assessment on LGE images is feasible, rapid, reproducible and agrees very well with quantitative methods, with a very low inter- and intraobserver variability. Our approach could be used for routine evaluation in patients undergoing CMR after acute myocardial infarction. • Microvascular obstruction direct visual evaluation is feasible, rapid and highly reproducible. • Microvascular obstruction direct visual evaluation correlates well with quantification by planimetry. • Microvascular obstruction or no-reflow phenomenon is determined on late gadolinium-enhanced images. • Cardiac MRI is useful for myocardial damage assessment after myocardial infarction.