Live 3D echocardiography: a replacement for traditional 2D echocardiography?
OBJECTIVE
We describe the development of real-time 3D imaging and review the previously used versions of 3D echocardiography so that the reader will appreciate why current developments truly do represent a quantum leap in the technology.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-dimensional echocardiography has now been shown to have several advantages over 2D echocardiography, particularly for volume measurements, visualization of septal defects, and whole-valve evaluation. Given these data, it is clear that 3D echocardiography is here to stay and soon will become part of routine echocardiographic examinations.
Houck
Robin C
RC
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, Box 359748, 329 Ninth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104-2599, USA.
Cooke
Jason E
JE
Gill
Edward A
EA
D004452:Echocardiography; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans