Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in assessment of heart disease.
Echocardiography has progressed at an impressive pace in the last decade. A plethora of new techniques, including tissue-Doppler imaging, harmonic imaging, contrast echocardiography, digital-stress echocardiography, and three-dimensional (3-D) echocardiography, have altered our diagnostic strategies for managing patients with heart disease. Until recently, 3-D echocardiography was looked upon as a time-consuming and tedious procedure, making it more a research interest than a diagnostic tool. The introduction of real-time three-dimensional (RT-3-D) echocardiography has made possible dynamic diagnostic/therapeutic assessments while the procedure is performed. At The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, our more than 2 years of experience with RT-3-D suggests that this technique will play an important role in diagnosing and managing patients with heart disease.
Ahmad
M
M
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, 77555-0766, USA. mahmad@utmb.edu
D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans