title: An assessment of tissue harmonic versus fundamental imaging modes for echocardiographic measurements.
abstract: The study aimed to evaluate whether a significant difference exists between tissue harmonic imaging (THI) and fundamental imaging (FI) in routine quantitative echocardiographic assessment. We also examined the effects of THI on endocardial definition (ED). Fifty-eight unselected patients (29 men, 29 women; mean age 53 years) referred for transthoracic echocardiography were studied with use of both FI and THI modes. Two independent observers made M-mode measurements of the following: left atrium, aortic root, and left ventricular internal dimensions and wall thickness; they also measured left ventricular outflow tract diameter and left atrial area from 2-dimensional images. Endocardial definition was assessed with use of an arbitrary scoring system (0 = endocardium not visualized, 1 = endocardium visualized but suboptimally, 2 = endocardium well defined) and the American Society of Echocardiography 16-segment model. No significant difference existed between cardiac measurements derived from FI and THI. However, a highly significant improvement in ED occurred with THI (ED index 1.83 versus 1.70, P <.0001). This study suggests that no systematic differences exist in standard echocardiographic measurements between THI and FI, even in the setting of improved ED.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Heart Research, Department of Medicine, Monash University and Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gallas
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gelman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Donelan
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Peverill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004617:Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*