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Integrated backscatter for quantification of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast
A L Klein1, R D Murray, I W Black
1Department of Cardiology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195-5064, USA.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
|July 1, 1996
Summary
Integrated backscatter offers a new quantitative method for assessing spontaneous echo contrast (SEC). This objective measure correlates with qualitative grades and predicts thromboembolism risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Biomedical Engineering
- Diagnostic Echocardiography
Background:
- Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) presents as swirling echoes linked to low flow and embolic events.
- SEC has been traditionally graded qualitatively as mild or severe.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a quantitative method for assessing spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) using integrated backscatter.
- To compare integrated backscatter SEC measurements with qualitative grades and thromboembolism predictors.
Main Methods:
- Transesophageal echocardiography was used in 43 patients to acquire integrated backscatter image sequences.
- Integrated backscatter intensity was compared to qualitative SEC grades and clinical/echocardiographic thromboembolism predictors.
Main Results:
- Integrated backscatter intensity in the left atrium was significantly higher in mild (4.7 dB) and severe (12.5 dB) SEC groups compared to the left ventricle.
- Quantitative SEC measurements correlated well with qualitative grades and identified key features of SEC using Fourier analysis.
- Integrated backscatter showed a strong association with atrial fibrillation, left atrial size, and thrombus formation.
Conclusions:
- Integrated backscatter provides an objective, quantitative assessment of SEC, aligning with qualitative grading.
- This method shows strong associations with clinical and echocardiographic indicators of thromboembolic risk.