title: Intracardiac echocardiography: gross anatomy and magnetic resonance correlations and validations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The feasibility and safety of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) in humans, using low frequency transducers, and its excellent tissue contrast capabilities that enhances the differentiation of intracardiac structures have been previously demonstrated. However, correlations among ICE imaging and anatomic sections or magnetic resonance (MR) scan planes have never been described before. This study was designed to correlate a simplified ICE approach with the anatomy of the right atrium and great vessels obtained by serial post-mortem sections and cardiac MR images.
  
  
  METHODS
  A stepwise approach to ICE, which is based on our experience on over 300 consecutive patients with interatrial communications, has been correlated with anatomic sections from pressure-perfused-fixed hearts and spin echo cardiac MR imaging. A 9F-9 MHz mechanical device was used to record four transverse and one longitudinal sections for an extensive evaluation of the intracardiac architecture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ICE transverse and longitudinal views allowed the detection of all the required information. Moreover, the anatomic sections and cardiac MR scan planes allowed validation of all the structures imaged by ICE. The potential clinical applications of the ICE technique are further discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper demonstrates the basic accuracy of this new imaging modality. Therefore, mechanical ICE might be considered an active investment in cardiac catheterization laboratories, specifically in the percutaneous interventional procedure setting, discovering a new route (let's see and treat) to sophisticated interventions. In this respect, there can be little doubt that the knowledge of cross-sectional mechanical ICE imaging provides the basis for understanding the heart anatomy.
authors.affiliation: Department Cardiovascular Disease, Cittadella General Hospital, Padova, Cittadella, Italy. emodinacit@ulss15.pd.it
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanchetta
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rigatelli
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pedon
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zennaro
authors.forename: Kostantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dimopoulous
authors.forename: Eustaquio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Onorato
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frescura
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maiolino
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thiene
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Angelini
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010496:Pericardium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging