Real-Time Artificial Intelligence-Based Guidance of Echocardiographic Imaging by Novices: Image Quality and Suitability for Diagnostic Interpretation and Quantitative Analysis.

Background: We aimed to assess in a prospective multicenter study the quality of echocardiographic exams performed by inexperienced users guided by a new artificial intelligence software and evaluate their suitability for diagnostic interpretation of basic cardiac pathology and quantitative analysis of cardiac chamber and function.

Methods: The software (UltraSight, Ltd) was embedded into a handheld imaging device (Lumify; Philips). Six nurses and 3 medical residents, who underwent minimal training, scanned 240 patients (61±16 years; 63% with cardiac pathology) in 10 standard views.

Right Ventricular Thrombus on Echocardiography.

Right ventricular thrombi (RVTs) have been almost exclusively studied in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). The implications of an isolated RVT, a finding typically encountered on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), are lacking. In this study, we sought to identify the echocardiographic and clinical features associated with the presence of RVTs.

Anomalous right coronary artery from the main pulmonary artery (ARCAPA): Incidental finding in an asymptomatic septuagenarian.

Anomalous right coronary artery (RCA) from the main pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) is a rare finding. Clinical presentations range from asymptomatic to sudden death. We present the case of ARCAPA in a septuagenarian initially suspected on a screening chest computed tomography (CT) and later confirmed on cardiac CT.

How Often Does Apical Sparing of Longitudinal Strain Indicate the Presence of Cardiac Amyloidosis?

Echocardiographic diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is frequently suggested by the presence of a left ventricular (LV) apical sparing pattern (ASP) on longitudinal strain (LS) assessment, the so-called "cherry on top" pattern, defined by strain magnitude preserved exclusively at the apex. However, it is unclear how frequently this strain pattern truly represents CA. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of ASP in the diagnosis of CA.

Feasibility of Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain Measurements from Contrast-Enhanced Echocardiographic Images.

Background: Although left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) is an index of systolic function recommended by the guidelines, poor image quality may hamper strain measurements. While contrast agents are commonly used to improve endocardial visualization, no commercial speckle-tracking software is able to measure strain in contrast-enhanced images. This study aimed to test the accuracy of speckle-tracking software when applied to contrast-enhanced images in patients with suboptimal image quality.

Quantification of Right Ventricular Size and Function from Contrast-Enhanced Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Images.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography directly assesses right ventricular (RV) volumes without geometric assumptions, despite the complex shape of the right ventricle, and accordingly is more accurate and reproducible than the two-dimensional methodology, which is able to measure only surrogate parameters of RV function. Volumetric analysis has been hampered by frequent inability to clearly visualize RV endocardium, especially the RV free wall, in 3D echocardiographic images. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that RV contrast enhancement during 3D echocardiographic imaging would improve the accuracy of RV volume and function analysis.

Atrial-focused views improve the accuracy of two-dimensional echocardiographic measurements of the left and right atrial volumes: a contribution to the increase in normal values in the guidelines update.

Current guidelines recommend that the atria be measured in 2D echocardiographic (2DE) apical views using the method-of-disks (MOD) or area-length (AL) technique as an alternative, although no definitive data exists that these are interchangeable. However, standard apical views maximize the long-axis of the left ventricle, rather than the dimensions of the atria, resulting in atrial foreshortening. We hypothesized that the increase in normal values of atrial volumes in the recent guidelines update was driven by data obtained using either the AL technique or dedicated atrial-focused views, which maximize the longitudinal dimension of the atria and thus provide larger volumes than the MOD measurements in standard apical views.