[Quantification of right ventricular function by 2D speckle imaging and three dimensional echography. Comparison with...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging
• Echocardiography

Background:

• Assessing right ventricular (RV) function is crucial but complex, involving numerous echocardiographic parameters.
• New imaging tools like 2D speckle imaging (2DSI) and 3D echography offer potential advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of 2DSI and 3D echography in assessing RV function against magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• To evaluate novel markers of RV function derived from 2DSI and 3D echography.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-two patients underwent comprehensive echocardiography (including standard RV function parameters, 3D full-volume RV acquisition) and MRI.
• 2DSI was applied to RV free wall cine loops to measure peak systolic strain in basal, median, and apical segments.
• Correlation analyses were performed between echocardiographic parameters, MRI-derived RV volumes, and RV ejection fraction (RVEF).

Main Results:

• Apical strain measured by 2DSI showed a significant reduction in patients with RVEF ≤ 45% and correlated strongly with MRI-derived RVEF (r=-0.717).
• 3D RVEF demonstrated a weaker correlation with MRI RVEF (r=0.447) and significantly underestimated RV volumes.
• Multivariate analysis identified apical strain and fractional area change (FAC) as predictors of decreased RVEF.

Conclusions:

• Apical strain derived from 2DSI is a promising parameter for estimating RV function.
• 3D echography's estimation of RVEF is less reliable due to significant underestimation of RV volumes.