Abstract
Two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) is limited for the accurate measurement of chamber volumes and their function by image plane positioning errors and geometric assumptions that become invalid in patients with abnormally shaped chambers. Among the various three-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic (3DE) techniques for image acquisition and quantification of left ventricular volumes, real-time 3DE was developed approximately a decade ago. Currently, 3DE is a noninvasive tool to obtain 3D information on the chamber cavity with high spatial and temporal resolution. A number of previous studies have demonstrated the accuracy of 3DE for the assessment of left ventricular volume and mass as well as the 3D geometry of the heart structure, including the left atrium and right ventricle. Further, recent improvements in computer technology have introduced 3DE software that allows automated delineation of the left ventricular surface during a cardiac cycle. Such improvements in 3DE systems and software would support the notion of bringing 3DE into the mainstream for diagnosis and management of patients with cardiac diseases in clinical settings.
