Applications of cross-correlation techniques to the quantitation of wall motion in short-axis two-dimensional echocardiographic images.
Echocardiography is now a mainstay in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Rapid methods for quantitation of the images would provide an effective tool for the diagnosis of change in left ventricular function. The purpose of this article is to show the feasibility of using the cross-correlation technique to quantify change in left ventricular function over time in two-dimensional short-axis echocardiographic images. Radial histograms of radial distance versus the number of probable specular targets are formed in eight sectors on each frame during the cardiac cycle. These histograms are then shifted to a position of best correlation. The number of radial bins through which the histograms at end systole are shifted to correlate with those of the frame at end diastole defines the regional motion. The methods are described and preliminary findings are presented.
Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
E A
EA
Geiser
D C
DC
Wilson
G L
GL
Gibby
D000465:Algorithms; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*