Fig. 12

Correlation between EF and EF Shape Vector and visual assessment of results. Measured EF and shape features as described by the EF Shape Mode correlated well. Shape change of the template from a larger arch shape with a slim ascending and a slightly dilated descending aorta was associated with low, negative shape vector values. A smaller arch shape with dilated root and slim descending aorta was associated with high, positive shape vector values (bottom). Compared with the shape of two subjects (CoA1 and CoA12) with low EF at the left, lower spectrum of shape vector values, key shape features supposedly associated with low EF values such as a long, slightly dilated descending and a slim ascending aorta, are depicted correctly by the EF shape mode. On the other side of the shape spectrum, subjects CoA6 and CoA17 presented with a high EF and showed shape features in agreement with the shape mode derived for high EF values. Both shapes were compact, with a shorter, slim descending aorta compared to the ascending aorta, along with a dilated aortic root. Two subjects, who most likely contributed to the relatively weak correlation between EF and the EF shape vector, were subjects CoA5 and CoA15 as marked in red (dashed). Although they presented with similar shapes as CoA6 and CoA17 and thus do show shape features that should be associated with high EF values, their EF values were in the mid-spectrum for CoA5 and even lower than CoA12 for CoA15