High spatial resolution speckle tracking improves accuracy of 2-dimensional strain measurements: an update on a new method in functional echocardiography.
BACKGROUND
We previously found that a 2-dimensional (2D) strain echocardiography method had some limitations in the assessment of low magnitudes and rates of deformation. Here, we study whether a recently introduced high spatial resolution speckle tracking (HRT) method improves accuracy of 2D strain measurements.


METHODS
A gelatin block was cyclically compressed by a hydraulic piston. Regional deformations measured by 2D-HRT were compared with reference strains obtained from an embedded pair of sonomicrometry crystals. Global deformations (along the gelatin block) were compared to strains calculated from tracings of piston motion. We tested a wide range of strains (5.4%-21.5%) and combined each measurement with simulated heart rates (24-196/min).


RESULTS
Regional deformations measured by 2D-HRT demonstrated excellent correlation (r = 0.99, P < .0001) and agreement (bias +/- 2SD = -0.3 +/- 1.3%) with sonomicrometry. Close correlation (r = 0.99, P < .0001) and agreement (bias +/- 2SD = 0.5 +/- 1.2%) was observed also for global strains measured by 2D-HRT and compared with tracings of piston motion. There was good reproducibility of all tests: interobserver and intraobserver variabilities were 3.2% and 3.4% for regional strains and 3.1% and 3.5% for global strains, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
In our in vitro setting, the 2D-HRT method produced precise and accurate measurements of strains for clinically relevant ranges of deformation magnitudes and ranges.
Korinek
Josef
J
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Kjaergaard
Jesper
J
Sengupta
Partho P
PP
Yoshifuku
Shiro
S
McMahon
Eileen M
EM
Cha
Stephen S
SS
Khandheria
Bijoy K
BK
Belohlavek
Marek
M
D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004548:Elasticity; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*