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Transthoracic Echocardiography in Mice
Published on: May 28, 2010
Evaluation of Left Ventricular Papillary Muscles Using Targeted Views by Echocardiography.
Linyue Zhang1,2,3,4, Yuji Xie1,2,3,4, Xin Zhang1,2,3,4
1Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|May 13, 2026
Summary
New papillary muscle-targeted echocardiographic views improve visualization and measurement accuracy. This study establishes normative reference values for papillary muscles (PMs) in healthy adults, aiding in diagnosing PM-related abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Echocardiography
- Cardiac Anatomy
Background:
- Papillary muscles (PMs) are crucial for mitral valve function and left ventricular mechanics.
- Conventional echocardiography often provides limited visualization of PMs, hindering accurate assessment.
- This study introduces papillary muscle-targeted (PM-targeted) views to enhance PM visualization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the efficacy of PM-targeted echocardiographic views for improved PM visualization.
- To establish normative reference values for PM dimensions and function in healthy adults.
- To assess PM alterations in patients with ventricular functional mitral regurgitation (VFMR).
Main Methods:
- Protocol 1: Compared PM-targeted and standard views with ex vivo porcine heart anatomy.
- Protocol 2: Assessed PM visualization and measurements in 100 healthy adults comparing PM-targeted and standard views.
- Protocol 3: Measured PM structural, spatial, and functional parameters in 245 healthy adults using PM-targeted views.
- Protocol 4: Validated 2D PM-targeted views against 3D echocardiography and compared PM parameters in VFMR patients versus healthy controls.
Main Results:
- PM-targeted views demonstrated superior correlation with anatomic measurements for posteromedial papillary muscle (PPM) length.
- PM-targeted views enabled complete visualization and yielded more accurate measurements (longer lengths, smaller diameters) compared to standard views.
- Normative data revealed sex- and age-related differences in PM dimensions and function, with correlations to body surface area.
- 2D PM-targeted views showed excellent agreement with 3D echocardiography, and VFMR patients exhibited altered PM geometry.
Conclusions:
- PM-targeted echocardiographic views significantly improve papillary muscle visualization and measurement accuracy.
- Established normative reference values provide a baseline for clinical assessment of PM abnormalities.
- This technique facilitates more precise evaluation of conditions like VFMR.
