Analysis of the Left Ventricle After Myocardial Infarction Combining 4D Cine-MR and 3D DE-MR Image Sequences

Spatial-temporal MR image sequences of the heart contain information about shape and motion changes and pathological structures after myocardial infarction. In this paper a software system called HeAT for the quantitative analysis of 4D MR image sequences of infarct patients is presented. HeAT supports interactive segmentation of anatomical and pathological structures. Registration of Cine- and DE-MR image data is applied to enable their combined evaluation during the analysis process. Partitioning of the myocardium in segments enables the analysis with high local resolution. Corresponding segments are generated and used for inter/intra patient comparison. Quantitative parameters were extracted and visualized. Parameters like endocard movement in the infarcted area of 6 infarct patients were computed in HeAT. Parameters in the infarct area show the expected dysfunctional characteristics. Based on theses parameters passive endocardial movement and myocardial areas with decreased contraction were identified.