| dc.description.abstract | Purpose: The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to assess the diagnostic value
of texture analysis (TA) based on conventional balanced steady-state-free precession (bSSFP), late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and T2-weighted
cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) in patients with clinically
suspected myocarditis.
Method: A retrospective cohort study was performed based on 30 patients who
underwent a comprehensive CMRI due to clinically suspected myocarditis
between 2013 and 2018 at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital: 10 patients
with clinical signs and positive myocardial biomarkers (Troponin T,
indicating myocardial injury) as well as positive CMRI findings according to
Lake Louise Criteria (LLC; group 1), 10 patients with clinical signs and
positive myocardial biomarkers but negative CMRI findings according to
LLC (group 2), and 10 patients with clinical signs but both negative
myocardial biomarkers as well as CMRI findings according to LLC (control
group). TA was performed on regions-of-interest, encompassing the left
ventricle, on short axis bSSFP, LGE and T2-weighted images using a freely
available software package. Promising features were selected to assess
their diagnostic potential.
Result: The differentiation between group 1 and the control group was possible
with the help of three texture features based on bSSFP images (Variance:
p = 0.004, Gradient Mean: p < 0.001, and Sum Average: p < 0.001), four
texture features based on LGE images (Variance: p < 0.001, Skewness: p =
0.004, Gradient Mean: p < 0.001, and Sum Average: p < 0.001) and two
texture features based on T2-weighted images (Skewness: p < 0.001 and
Sum Average: p = 0.01).
Conclusion: Our results show that TA is feasible based on conventional bSSFP, LGE and
T2-weighted CMRI enabling automated detection of myocarditisin patients
with initial clinical suspicion, emphasizing the value of bSSFP imaging as a
promising non-contrast tissue characterization technique. | sv |
