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Publications (2)16.31 Total impact

  • Article: Quantification of Left Ventricular Size and Function Using Contrast-Enhanced Real-Time 3D Imaging with Power Modulation: Comparison with Cardiac MRI.
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    ABSTRACT: In patients with optimal images, real-time 3-D echocardiography (RT3DE) allows accurate evaluation of left ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction (EF). However, in patients with poor acoustic windows, lower correlations were reported despite the use of contrast. We hypothesized that power modulation (PM) RT3DE imaging that uses low mechanical indices and provides uniform LV opacification could overcome this problem. Accordingly, we sought to: (i) Test the feasibility of quantification of LV volumes and EF from contrast-enhanced (CE) PM RT3DE images, (ii) validate this technique against cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) reference and (iii) test its clinical value by quantifying the improvement in accuracy and reproducibility. We studied 20 patients who underwent CMR, harmonic nonenhanced RT3DE and CE PM RT3DE imaging on the same day. All images were analyzed to obtain end-systolic and end-diastolic LV volumes (EDV, ESV) and calculate EF. To determine the reproducibility of each RT3DE technique, imaging was repeated in the same setting by a second sonographer. In addition, patients were divided according to the quality of their RT3DE images into two groups, for which agreement with CMR and reproducibility were calculated separately. CE PM RT3DE imaging improved the accuracy of EDV, ESV and EF measurements in patients with poor acoustic windows without significantly affecting those in patients with optimal images. In addition, CE PM RT3DE imaging improved the reproducibility of the measurements, as reflected by a twofold decrease in intermeasurement variability. Importantly, the variability in CE PM RT3DE-derived volumes and EF was under 10%, irrespective of image quality. This methodology may become the new standard for LV size and function, which will be particularly important in patients with poor acoustic windows or contraindications to CMR.
    Ultrasound in medicine & biology 08/2012; 38(11):1853-8. · 2.02 Impact Factor
  • Article: Real-time 3-dimensional echocardiographic quantification of left ventricular volumes: multicenter study for validation with magnetic resonance imaging and investigation of sources of error.
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    ABSTRACT: We sought to study: 1) the accuracy and reproducibility of real-time 3-dimensional echocardiographic (RT3DE) analysis of left ventricular (LV) volumes in a multicenter setting, 2) interinstitutional differences in relationship with the investigators' specific experience, and 3) potential sources of volume underestimation. Reproducibility and accuracy of RT3DE evaluation of LV volumes has not been validated in multicenter studies, and LV volumes have been reported to be underestimated compared to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) standard. A total of 92 patients with a wide range of ejection fractions underwent CMR and RT3DE imaging at 4 different institutions. Images were analyzed to obtain LV end-systolic volume (ESV) and end-diastolic volume (EDV). Reproducibility was assessed using repeated analyses. The investigation of potential sources of error included: phantom imaging, intermodality analysis-related differences, and differences in LV boundary identification, such as inclusion of endocardial trabeculae and mitral valve plane in the LV volume. The RT3DE-derived LV volumes correlated highly with CMR values (EDV: r = 0.91; ESV: r = 0.93), but were 26% and 29% lower consistently across institutions, with the magnitude of the bias being inversely related to the level of experience. The RT3DE measurements were less reproducible (4% to 13%) than CMR measurements (4% to 7%). Minimal changes in endocardial surface position (1 mm) resulted in significant differences in measured volumes (11%). Exclusion of trabeculae and mitral valve plane from the CMR reference eliminated the intermodality bias. The RT3DE-derived LV volumes are underestimated in most patients because RT3DE imaging cannot differentiate between the myocardium and trabeculae. To minimize this difference, tracing the endocardium to include trabeculae in the LV cavity is recommended. With the understanding of these intermodality differences, RT3DE quantification of LV volume is a reliable tool that provides clinically useful information.
    JACC. Cardiovascular imaging 08/2008; 1(4):413-23. · 14.29 Impact Factor