title: Rapid three-dimensional echocardiography : clinically feasible alternative for precise and accurate measurement of left ventricular volumes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical applicability of conventional ultrasonographic systems using mechanical adapters for 3D echocardiographic imaging has been limited by long acquisition and processing times. We developed a rapid (6-s) acquisition technique that collects apical tomograms using a continuously internally rotating transthoracic transducer. This study was performed to examine the clinical feasibility of rapid-acquisition 3D echocardiography to estimate left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes using electron-beam computed tomography as the reference standard. Methods and Results-We collected a series of 6 to 11 apical echocardiographic tomograms, depending on heart rate, in 11 patients. There was good correlation, low variability, and low bias between rapid 3D echocardiography and electron-beam computed tomography for measuring left ventricular end-diastolic volume (r=0.96; standard error of the estimate, 21.34 mL; bias, -4.93 mL) and left ventricular end-systolic volume (r=0.96; standard error of the estimate, 14.78 mL; bias, -6.97 mL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rapid-acquisition 3D echocardiography extends the use of a multiplane, internally rotating handheld transducer so that it becomes a precise and clinically feasible tool for assessing left ventricular volumes and function. A rapid-image acquisition time of 6 s would allow repeated image collection during the course of a clinical echocardiographic examination. Additional work must address rapid and automated data processing.
authors: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Belohlavek
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Tanabe
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Jakrapanichakul
authors: J F
authors: JF
authors: Breen
authors: J B
authors: JB
authors: Seward
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013997:Time Factors; D014054:Tomography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed