Journal: Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease

Article Title: The Role of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Characterizing Atrial Cardiomyopathy and Guiding Substrate Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation: A Narrative Review

doi: 10.3390/jcdd12040114

Figure Lengend Snippet: Atrial CMR imaging post-processing protocol adopted in the most relevant studies evaluating MRI-guided AF ablation.

Article Snippet: Akoum/2015/monocentric, retrospective observational study [ ] , Left atrial wall volumes were manually segmented from the LGE-MRI by expert observers using the Coreview image processing software (Marrek Inc.); the resulting LA wall segmentation included the 3D extent of both the LA wall and the antral regions of the PVs. Fibrosis regions in the LGE-MRI were identified based on an intensity threshold established through expert evaluation. A volume-rendering tool in Corview enabled operators to visualize enhancement distribution in 3D; a custom transfer function was employed to define enhancement gradations while suppressing blood and normal tissue. Fibrosis and scarring were reported as a percentage of the atrial wall; patients were categorized into four stages (Utah stages) based on their baseline fibrosis..

Techniques: Imaging, Software, Standard Deviation