title: Left atrial volume by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography: validation by 64-slice multidetector computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left atrial (LA) enlargement has been acknowledged as a significant predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the accuracy of two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiography for determining LA volume, LA volume measurements by echocardiography were compared with those measured by 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) as a reference standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-seven consecutive patients (mean age, 66 ± 11 years; 59% men) referred to echocardiography and MDCT on the same day were prospectively evaluated. LA volume by three-dimensional echocardiography was correlated closely with that by MDCT (r = 0.95, P < .0001), with 8% underestimation. LA volume by two-dimensional echocardiography was correlated less well with that measured by MDCT (r = 0.86, P < .0001) and consistently underestimated LA volume by 19%, particularly as the left atrium enlarged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LA volume assessment by three-dimensional echocardiography was correlated closely with that measured by MDCT, albeit with an 8% underestimation. Three-dimensional echocardiography is a feasible noninvasive method to evaluate LA volume.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine II, Kansai Medical University, 2-3-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Japan. miyasaka@hirakata.kmu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyasaka
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsujimoto
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maeba
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yuasa
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takehana
authors.forename: Kinuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dote
authors.forename: Toshiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwasaka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*