title: Recent advances in echocardiography: strain and strain rate imaging.
abstract: Deformation imaging by echocardiography is a well-established research tool which has been gaining interest from clinical cardiologists since the introduction of speckle tracking. Post-processing of echo images to analyze deformation has become readily available at the fingertips of the user. New parameters such as global longitudinal strain have been shown to provide added diagnostic value, and ongoing efforts of the imaging societies and industry aimed at harmonizing methods will improve the technique further. This review focuses on recent advances in the field of echocardiographic strain and strain rate imaging, and provides an overview on its current and potential future clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Herestraat, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Oana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mirea
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Herestraat, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jurgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duchenne
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Herestraat, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, UZ Leuven - University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jens-Uwe
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Voigt
keywords: echocardiographic strain; echocardiography; speckle tracking; strain rate imaging