Diagnostic performance of the Selvester QRS scoring system in relation to clinical ECG assessment of patients with lateral myocardial infarction using cardiac magnetic resonance as reference standard

J Electrocardiol. 2015 Sep-Oct;48(5):750-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2015.07.009. Epub 2015 Jul 9.

Abstract

Background: The Selvester QRS scoring system has previously been shown to enable estimation of myocardial infarct (MI) size by quantitative evaluation of the 12-lead ECG. The aim of this study was to assess the system's ability to detect and quantify lateral MI, using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) as reference standard.

Methods: In 23 patients with isolated lateral infarctions MI size was assessed by CMR and estimated by QRS scoring. The ECGs were also evaluated by two cardiologists according to clinical routine.

Results: The MI size estimated by QRS scoring correlated with MI size assessed by CMR (r=0.55, p=0.006). The sensitivity for lateral MI detection was 78% for QRS scoring and 39% for clinical routine ECG evaluation, respectively.

Conclusion: Selvester QRS scoring can be used to estimate size of isolated lateral MI and has a higher sensitivity for infarct detection compared to clinical routine evaluation of ECGs in these patients.

Keywords: Cardiac Magnetic Resonance; Electrocardiography; Myocardial infarction; Selvester QRS scoring.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Algorithms*
  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Electrocardiography / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / classification*
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis*
  • Observer Variation
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Severity of Illness Index*