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).