Myocardial Strain MRI (Feature Tracking, FT) : Explanation and Clinical Context Myocardial strain imaging using cardiac MRI feature tracking (FT) allows non-invasive quantification of myocardial deformation in three directions: longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS), and radial (GRS).
It provides early detection of subclinical myocardial dysfunction even when left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is preserved.
GLS is the most sensitive for detecting early systolic dysfunction, while GCS and GRS offer complementary information about circumferential and radial contraction.
Thresholds for abnormal strain are derived from large cohort studies: GLS > -16%, GCS > -18%, and GRS < 35% indicate impaired myocardial function.
FT strain values are predictive of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in conditions such as cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease, and heart failure.
Reference:
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Morton G, et al. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2019;20:1059–1068. doi:10.1093/ehjci/jez025