Quantitative three-dimensional echocardiography by rapid imaging from multiple transthoracic windows: in vitro validation and initial in vivo studies.
Three-dimensional echocardiography has demonstrated superiority over two-dimensional techniques in the determination of left ventricular mass and volumes. We describe a technique based on a magnetic tracking system which provides rapid three-dimensional image acquisition from multiple acoustic windows. Interactive three-dimensional border tracking and reconstruction with a piecewise smooth subdivision model accurately reproduced phantom volume (calculated volume = 1.00 true volume - 0.6 ml, r = 1.000, standard error of the estimate = 1.3 ml), in vitro heart volume (calculated volume = 1.02 true volume - 1.3 ml, r = 1.000, standard error of the estimate = 0.4 ml), in vitro heart mass (calculated mass = 0.98 true mass + 1.4 gm, r = 0.998, standard error of the estimate = 2.5 gm), and in vivo stroke volume (calculated stroke volume = 1.18 Doppler stroke volume - 17.9 ml, r = 0.990, standard error of the estimate = 2.8 ml). The three-dimensional in vivo data sets, which include views from three acoustic windows, were acquired in less than 90 seconds. We conclude that this method of three-dimensional echocardiographic data acquisition and analysis overcomes limitations inherent in currently available systems.
Leotta
D F
DF
Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
Munt
B
B
Bolson
E L
EL
Kraft
C
C
Martin
R W
RW
Otto
C M
CM
Sheehan
F H
FH
D000818:Animals; D002306:Cardiac Volume; D002417:Cattle; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013318:Stroke Volume