Left atrial volumes assessed by three- and two-dimensional echocardiography compared to MRI estimates.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to establish the accuracy and reproducibility of left atrial volume measurements by three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography compared to 2D biplane and monoplane measurements.

Background: No echocardiographic technique is generally accepted as optimal for estimation of left atrial size.

Methods: Left atrial volumes of 18 unselected cardiac patients were obtained with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (volumes 145 +/- 58 ml).

A simplified, practical echocardiographic approach for 3-dimensional surfacing and quantitation of the left ventricle: clinical application in patients with abnormally shaped hearts.

The goal of this study was to validate the quantitative accuracy of a system for 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic reconstruction of the left ventricle to assess its volume and function in human beings by using 3 apical views as a simplified technique to promote practical clinical application. End-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (EDV, ESV) and ejection fraction (EF) were obtained by 3D echocardiography in 50 patients with dilated or geometrically distorted left ventricles and compared with values from magnetic resonance imaging (20 consecutive patients), angiography (22 consecutive patients), and radionuclide imaging (8 consecutive patients). Three-dimensional results were also compared with 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic estimates.

Three-dimensional echocardiographic reconstruction: description and applications of a simplified technique for quantitative assessment of left ventricular size and function.

A simplified system for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the left ventricle and quantitation of its size and function is described. This system requires the acquisition of a minimum number of two-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic apical views, which are obtained by rotation of the probe about the initial imaging point. Traced endocardial borders are spatially reconstructed according to the common apex and longitudinal axis of the views and to the measured or assumed angular relation between scanned planes.

Evaluation of reference systems for quantitative wall motion analysis from three-dimensional endocardial surface reconstruction: an echocardiographic study in subjects with and without myocardial infarction.

Six relevant computer-implemented reference systems for three-dimensional quantitative assessment of left ventricular wall motion abnormalities were compared with visual wall motion analysis of two-dimensional images. Endocardial borders were traced in three apical echocardiographic views at end-diastole and end-systole in 10 patients with myocardial infarction and 5 healthy subjects, and three-dimensional reconstruction of endocardial surfaces was performed. End-diastolic and end-systolic surfaces were aligned in a common axis system depending on the reference system, and systolic wall motion was assessed at 1,024 points on the endocardial surface.

A new method for echocardiographic computerized three-dimensional reconstruction of left ventricular endocardial surface: in vitro accuracy and clinical repeatability of volumes.

This study evaluates the in vitro accuracy and clinical repeatability of volumes derived by a new algorithm for three-dimensional reconstruction of cavity surfaces based on echocardiographic apical images obtained by probe rotation. The accuracy of the method was tested in latex phantoms (true volumes, 32 to 349 cm3) with (n = 9) or without (n = 9) rotational symmetry around the midcavitary long axis. Repeatability of left ventricular volumes was assessed in subjects without (n = 5) or with (n = 10) myocardial disease.