title: Automated assessment of left atrial function from time-left atrial volume curves using a novel speckle tracking imaging method.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Using a novel speckle-tracking imaging method, time-left atrial (LA) volume curves (TLAVCs) can be automatically obtained. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether this method can be used for the measurement of LA function with TLAVCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 10 normal subjects and 20 patients, apical 4-chamber images were obtained. Maximum volume, reservoir volume, conduit volume, booster pump volume, and minimum volume were measured from TLAVCs. The results were compared with those obtained by the manual tracing method on every frame during 1 cardiac cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was good agreement between the speckle-tracking imaging and manual methods for maximum LA volume (r = 0.98, P < .001), reservoir volume (r = 0.82, P < .001), conduit volume (r = 0.87, P < .001), booster pump volume (r = 0.80, P < .001), and minimum volume (r = 0.98, P < .001). The time to obtain TLAVCs was significantly shorter with the speckle-tracking imaging method (64 +/- 22 seconds) than with the manual method (22 +/- 4 minutes).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TLAVCs obtained using the speckle-tracking imaging method can be used for the rapid and noninvasive automated quantitation of LA function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Osaka City University Medical School, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Keitaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hozumi
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugioka
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshitani
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshiyama
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography