0000000000013894
AUTHOR
Jean-louis Vanoverschelde
Analysis of myocardial perfusion or myocardial function for detection of regional myocardial abnormalities. An echocardiographic multicenter comparison study using myocardial contrast echocardiography and 2D echocardiography.
Background: Echocardiography based myocardial perfusion imaging and regional wall motion analysis are used for evaluation of coronary artery disease and regional myocardial abnormalities. Aim: This study sought to compare myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) and 2D echocardiography with regard to interobserver variability and detection of regional myocardial abnormalities. Methods: In 70 patients evenly distributed between three ejection fraction groups based on biplane cineventriculography (>55%, 35-55%, <35%), unenhanced and contrast enhanced 2D echocardiography and myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE; SonoVue (R); Bracco) were performed. Regional watt motion and myocardial pe…
Analysis of Regional Left Ventricular Function by Cineventriculography, Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Unenhanced and Contrast-Enhanced Echocardiography
OBJECTIVES To define the use of cineventriculography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), and unenhanced and contrast-enhanced echocardiography for detection of left ventricular (LV) regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA). BACKGROUND Detection of RWMA is integral to the evaluation of LV function. METHODS In 100 patients, cineventriculography and unenhanced and contrast-enhanced echocardiography were performed. Fifty-six of the patients underwent additional cMRI. RWMA were assessed referring to a 16-segment model for cMRI, unenhanced and contrast echocardiography. Cineventriculography was evaluated on a 7-segment model. Hypokinesia in one or more segments defined presence of RWMA. …
Analysis of left ventricular volumes and function: a multicenter comparison of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, cine ventriculography, and unenhanced and contrast-enhanced two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiography.
Background: Contrast echocardiography improves accuracy and reduces interreader variability on left ventricular (LV)functional analyses inthe settingof two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. Theneedfor contrast imaging using three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography is less defined. The aim of this multicenter study was to define the accuracy and interreader agreement of unenhanced and contrast-enhanced 2D and 3D echocardiography for the assessment of LV volumes and ejection fraction (EF). Methods: A multicenter, open-label study was conducted including 63 patients, using intrasubject comparisons to assess the agreement of unenhanced and contrast-enhanced 2D and 3D echocardiography as well as…
The use of contrast echocardiography: a matter of clinical judgement
In their editorial, Buck and Erbel1 raise the important question in which settings application of contrast agents to an echocardiographic examination is appropriate. There is no doubt that the beauty of echocardiography relates to its ease of use. We should acknowledge that highest accuracy in the determination of left ventricular function is not necessary in most patients referred for an echocardiographic evaluation. Thus, contrast echocardiography will not be a technique to be used in all patients for mere evaluation of left ventricular function as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging will not be used in routine clinical practice only for its known superb accuracy. However, there are patien…
Assessment of systolic left ventricular function: a multi-centre comparison of cineventriculography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, unenhanced and contrast-enhanced echocardiography
Aims To assess the agreement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) determinations from unenhanced echocardiography, contrast-enhanced echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cineventriculography as well as the inter-observer agreement for each method. Methods and results In 120 patients, with evenly distributed EF-groups (G 55, 35-55, L 35%), cineventriculography, unenhanced echocardiography with second harmonic imaging, and contrast echocardiography at tow mechanical index with iv administration of SonoVueR were performed. In addition, cardiac MRI at 1.5T using a steady-state free precession sequence was performed in a subset of 55 patients. On-site, and two blinded …