{
  "abstract": "BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has been used to visualise post-ablation atrial scar (PAAS), generally employing a three-dimensional (3D) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) technique. However the reproducibility of PAAS imaging has not been determined. This cross-over study is the first to investigate the reproducibility of the technique, crucial for both future research design and clinical implementation. METHODS: Forty subjects undergoing first time ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) had detailed CMR assessment of PAAS. Following baseline pre-ablation scan, two scans (separated by 48 h) were performed at three months post-ablation. Each scan session included 3D LGE acquisition at 10, 20 and 30 min post administration of gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA). Subjects were allocated at second scan post-ablation to identical imaging parameters ('Repro', n = 10), 3 T scanner ('3 T', n = 10), half-slice thickness ('Half-slice', n = 10) or half GBCA dose ('Half-gad', n = 10). PAAS was compared to baseline scar and then reproducibility was assessed for two measures of thresholded scar (% left atrial (LA) occupied by PAAS (%LA PAAS) and Pulmonary Vein Encirclement (PVE)), and then four measures of non-thresholded scar (point-by-point assessment of PAAS, four normalisation methods). Thresholded measures of PAAS were evaluated against procedural outcome (AF recurrence). RESULTS: A total of 271 3D acquisitions (out of maximum 280, 96.7%) were acquired. At 20 and 30 min, inter-scan reproducibility was good to excellent (coefficient of variation at 20 min and 30 min: %LA PAAS 0.41 and 0.20; PVE 0.13 and 0.04 respectively for 'Repro' group). Changes in imaging parameters, especially reduced GBCA dose, reduced inter-scan reproducibility, but for most measures remained good to excellent (ICC for %LA PAAS 0.454-0.825, PVE 0.618-0.809 at 30 min). For non-thresholded scar, highest reproducibility was observed using blood pool z-score normalisation technique: inter-scan ICC 0.759 (absolute agreement, 'Repro' group). There was no significant relationship between indices of PAAS and AF recurrence. CONCLUSION: PAAS imaging is a reproducible finding. Imaging should be performed at least 20 min post-GBCA injection, and a blood pool z-score should be considered for normalisation of signal intensities. The clinical implications of these findings remain to be established in the absence of a simple correlation with arrhythmia outcome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: United Kingdom National Research Ethics Service 08/H0802/68 - 30th September 2008.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 14,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Henry Chubb"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rashed Karim"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sébastien Roujol"
    },
    {
      "name": "Marta Nuñez-Garcia"
    },
    {
      "name": "Steven Williams"
    },
    {
      "name": "John Whitaker"
    },
    {
      "name": "James Harrison"
    },
    {
      "name": "Constantine Butakoff"
    },
    {
      "name": "Oscar Camara"
    },
    {
      "name": "Amedeo Chiribiri"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tobias Schaeffter"
    },
    {
      "name": "Matthew Wright"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mark O'Neill"
    },
    {
      "name": "Reza Razavi"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9rxrnmdf47p6p.bib",
  "cited_by": 61,
  "doi": "10.1186/s12968-018-0438-y",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "9rxrnmdf47p6p",
  "issns": [
    "1097-6647",
    "1532-429X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05796047v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.sdv"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "1.sdv.ib"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2705|Atrial Fibrillation Management and Outcomes"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W2806768348",
  "pdf_url": "https://jcmr-online.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12968-018-0438-y",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-12",
  "publisher": "BioMed Central : Elsevier",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9rxrnmdf47p6p.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:55Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05796047",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.science/hal-05796047v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "hal:1.sdv.ib",
      "subfield": "systems-synthetic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "The reproducibility of late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging of post-ablation atrial scar: a cross-over study",
  "title_text": "The reproducibility of late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging of post-ablation atrial scar: a cross-over study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:55Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9rxrnmdf47p6p",
  "venue": "Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance",
  "versions": []
}