Cardiac left ventricular MRI texture analysis to derive texture characteristics of a healthy population: clinical implications

TY - JOUR

T1 - Cardiac left ventricular MRI texture analysis to derive texture characteristics of a healthy population

T2 - clinical implications

AU - Tie, Ping

AU - Gandy, Stephen J.

AU - Weir-McCall, Jonathan

AU - Houston, John Graeme

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.

PY - 2025/7/26

Y1 - 2025/7/26

N2 - Objectives: To examine the factors affecting radiomic analysis of the myocardium and to identify the optimal approach to image analysis. Materials and methods: Texture features were extracted from left ventricular (LV) non-contrast cine images. Texture variable reduction work was performed by studying the region of interest (ROI) size influence and intra- and inter-observer repeatability. The texture analysis (TA) process was applied to a healthy population (n = 600 individuals) for further analysis. ROI were defined at end diastole (ED) and end systole (ES), with separate ROI drawn encompassing the whole myocardial wall, septal wall, and the free wall. Differences between ED and ES; females and males; different ages; and myocardial regions were compared. Results: Fifteen TA variables were tested; the majority were affected by the phase of imaging. Texture varied significantly with age, with ED images and with a whole wall ROI best differentiating between age groups. In the detection of physiological differences between men and women, the combination of ED with whole myocardium quantification resulted in a greater number of features showing a significant difference between the sexes. Consistent TA results were obtained for ROIs placed on the whole myocardial wall and on the septal wall. Conclusions: In a cohort of healthy volunteers, we have identified a subset of features with high reproducibility that are invariant to the region of interest size. Use of the whole myocardium at ED results in the greatest discrimination of physiological changes associated with age and sex. Key Points: Question The characteristics of healthy population myocardium texture using cardiac MR texture analysis are unclear. Findings A reasonable number of robust texture variables can discriminate physiological changes associated with age and sex. Clinical relevance This work develops a deeper understanding of healthy population myocardium variability, thus helping to increase awareness and recognition of myocardial disease. It is also achievable without the need for contrast agent injections or additional scanning.

AB - Objectives: To examine the factors affecting radiomic analysis of the myocardium and to identify the optimal approach to image analysis. Materials and methods: Texture features were extracted from left ventricular (LV) non-contrast cine images. Texture variable reduction work was performed by studying the region of interest (ROI) size influence and intra- and inter-observer repeatability. The texture analysis (TA) process was applied to a healthy population (n = 600 individuals) for further analysis. ROI were defined at end diastole (ED) and end systole (ES), with separate ROI drawn encompassing the whole myocardial wall, septal wall, and the free wall. Differences between ED and ES; females and males; different ages; and myocardial regions were compared. Results: Fifteen TA variables were tested; the majority were affected by the phase of imaging. Texture varied significantly with age, with ED images and with a whole wall ROI best differentiating between age groups. In the detection of physiological differences between men and women, the combination of ED with whole myocardium quantification resulted in a greater number of features showing a significant difference between the sexes. Consistent TA results were obtained for ROIs placed on the whole myocardial wall and on the septal wall. Conclusions: In a cohort of healthy volunteers, we have identified a subset of features with high reproducibility that are invariant to the region of interest size. Use of the whole myocardium at ED results in the greatest discrimination of physiological changes associated with age and sex. Key Points: Question The characteristics of healthy population myocardium texture using cardiac MR texture analysis are unclear. Findings A reasonable number of robust texture variables can discriminate physiological changes associated with age and sex. Clinical relevance This work develops a deeper understanding of healthy population myocardium variability, thus helping to increase awareness and recognition of myocardial disease. It is also achievable without the need for contrast agent injections or additional scanning.

KW - Image processing, computer-assisted

KW - Magnetic resonance imaging, cine

KW - Myocardium, healthy volunteers

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105012019907

U2 - 10.1007/s00330-025-11848-y

DO - 10.1007/s00330-025-11848-y

M3 - Article

C2 - 40715680

AN - SCOPUS:105012019907

SN - 0938-7994

JO - European Radiology

JF - European Radiology

ER -