A new method of analysis was used for clinical magnetic resonance phase velocity mapping (PVM) to quantify propagation speed (PS) of early diastolic left ventricular (LV) inflow. A group of older volunteers (OV; n = 21, age 58+/-11 years) and a group of aortic stenosis patients (AS; n = 21, age 69+/-8 years) were studied. PVM was used to measure diastolic inflow in the LV outflow tract plane. PS was quantified by a semi-automated method (Auto) and by an operator (Manual). The mean+/-SD PS was 0.71+/-0.21 (Auto) and 0.67+/-0.23 (Manual) m/sec in the OV group, versus 0.49+/-0.28 (Auto) and 0.43+/-0.18 m/sec (Manual) in the AS group. There were no differences in peak transmitral E-wave (P = 0.70) between OV and AS. However, there were differences in PS-Auto (P = 0.0079) and PS-Manual (P = 0.0007) between the two groups. PS is a promising index for identifying diastolic LV dysfunction in AS patients. The semi-automated technique is a practical approach for quantifying LV filling.