Figure 4.

Phase-contrast CMR of the aorta to determine aortic stroke volume and flow. Utilizing a 3-chamber cine view for reference (A), a phase-contrast CMR slice is prescribed in the aortic root (just above the aortic valve). This produces two sets of images: (B) the magnitude image provides details of the anatomy, contour, and shape of the aorta, and (C) the phase velocity map depicts the velocity and direction of flow in each pixel within the aorta. By outlining the contours of the aorta throughout each phase in the cardiac cycle, a flow curve can be generated (D) to determine aortic forward and reverse stroke volume and flow. AO: aorta; LV: left ventricle.