抄録
Background. Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography is an ideal tool for the assessment of morphology and function of the cardiovascular system including the geometry of the mitral apparatus. However, quantitative assessment of deformity of the mitral apparatus has been performed on a two-dimensional plane obtained from the 3D dataset, in spite of its unique configuration. We developed a novel software, which allowed us 3D visualization and quantitative analysis of the geometry of mitral leaflets and annulus by using transthoracic real-time 3D echocardiography.
Methods. We examined 6 normal subjects and 6 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy with functional mitral regurgitation (DCM-MR) by using this system.
Results. We succeeded in all study subjects to demonstrate the mitral leaflets and annulus in the 3D geometrical view. Furthermore, we could measure curved annular circumference, curved annular surface area, annular height, and the mitral leaflets tenting volume from the 3D data.
Conclusions. 3D geometry of the mitral leaflets and annulus were clearly demonstrated and quantified by our novel anatomical image creation system by using transthoracic real-time 3D echocardiography. This technique may be applicable to 3D quantitative analysis of the mitral apparatus for decision making in surgical strategy in each patient with mitral valve disease and may be useful in further investigations regarding the mechanism of functional mitral regurgitation.
