Feasibility and utility of three-dimensional color flow echocardiography of the aortic arch: The "echocardiographic angiogram".
Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2DE) is the most commonly used diagnostic modality to evaluate congenital and acquired abnormalities of the aortic arch. However, 2DE is frequently limited in this ability due to the three-dimensional character of the arch and its interrelationships with other vascular structures. Recently, three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) with 3D color flow Doppler became commercially available. We examined the feasibility and utility of 3DE with 3D color Doppler in the evaluation of patients with congenital (native and postoperative) abnormalities of the aortic arch. We found that 3DE color flow provides important diagnostic information in patients with aortic arch anomalies, in a manner that is quick and user-friendly. In addition, 17 of the 26 patients had their 3DE findings confirmed by additional modalities, providing reasonably significant validation for our findings with 3DE.
Hlavacek
Anthony
A
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA. hlavace@musc.edu
Lucas
Jon
J
Baker
Hamilton
H
Chessa
Karen
K
Shirali
Girish
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D021921:Aortic Stenosis, Supravalvular / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018636:Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging