Assessment of left ventricular volumes using simplified 3-D echocardiography and computed tomography - a phantom and clinical study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the accuracy of simplified 3-dimensional (3-D) echocardiography vs. multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) software for the quantification of left ventricular (LV) volumes.


METHODS
Three-D echocardiography (3-planes approach) and MSCT-CardIQ software were calibrated by measuring known volumes of 10 phantoms designed to closely mimic blood-endocardium interface. Subsequently, LV volumes were measured with both the methods in 9 patients referred routinely for coronary angiography and the agreement between the measurements was evaluated.


RESULTS
Simplified 3D-echocardiography provided higher degree of agreement between the measured and true phantom volumes (mean difference 0 +/- 1 ml, variation range +4 to -4 ml) than MSCT software (mean difference 6 +/- 5 ml; variation range +22 to -10 ml). The agreement between LV measurements in the patients was considerably poorer, with significantly larger volumes produced by MSCT (mean difference -23 +/- 40 ml, variation between +93 and -138 ml).


CONCLUSIONS
Simplified 3-D echocardiography provides more accurate assessment of phantom volumes than MSCT-CardIQ software. The discrepancy between the results of LV measurements with the two methods is even greater and does not warrant their interchangeable diagnostic use.
Mårtensson
Mattias
M
School for Technology and Health, Royal Institute of Technology, Flemingsberg, Stockholm, Sweden. mmar@kth.se
Winter
Reidar
R
Cederlund
Kerstin
K
Ripsweden
Jonaz
J
Mir-Akbari
Habib
H
Nowak
Jacek
J
Brodin
Lars-Ake
LA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011336:Probability; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*