title: Fast measurement of left ventricular mass with real-time three-dimensional echocardiography: comparison with magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left ventricular (LV) mass is an important predictor of morbidity and mortality, especially in patients with systemic hypertension. However, the accuracy of 2D echocardiographic LV mass measurements is limited because acquiring anatomically correct apical views is often difficult. We tested the hypothesis that LV mass could be measured more accurately from real-time 3D (RT3D) data sets, which allow offline selection of nonforeshortened apical views, by comparing 2D and RT3D measurements against cardiac MR (CMR) measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Echocardiographic imaging was performed (Philips 7500) in 21 patients referred for CMR imaging (1.5 T, GE). Apical 2- and 4-chamber views and RT3D data sets were acquired and analyzed by 2 independent observers. The RT3D data sets were used to select nonforeshortened apical 2- and 4-chamber views (3DQ-QLAB, Philips). In both 2D and RT3D images, LV long axis was measured; endocardial and epicardial boundaries were traced, and mass was calculated by use of the biplane method of disks. CMR LV mass values were obtained through standard techniques (MASS Analysis, GE). The RT3D data resulted in significantly larger LV long-axis dimensions and measurements of LV mass that correlated with CMR better (r=0.90) than 2D (r=0.79). The 2D technique underestimated LV mass (bias, 39%), whereas RT3D measurements showed only minimal bias (3%). The 95% limits of agreement were significantly wider for 2D (52%) than RT3D (28%). Additionally, the RT3D technique reduced the interobserver variability (37% to 7%) and intraobserver variability (19% to 8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RT3D imaging provides the basis for accurate and reliable measurement of LV mass.
authors.affiliation: Noninvasive Cardiac Imaging Laboratory, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill 60637, USA. vmoravi@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mor-Avi
authors.forename: Lissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sugeng
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weinert
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: MacEneaney
authors.forename: Enrico G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Caiani
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Ivan S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Salgo
authors.forename: Roberto M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016477:Artifacts; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009038:Motion; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D015588:Observer Variation; D009929:Organ Size; D015203:Reproducibility of Results