Speckle tracking echocardiography: A new approach to myocardial function

Abstract

Echocardiography is the most common diagnostic method for assessing cardiac function but some limitations affect this technique. Until now, visual assessment of wall motion and thickening has allowed only a subjective evaluation of myocardial function and requires long-term training. Recently, new echocardiographic techniques have been introduced to evaluate myocardial mechanics. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) technique is limited by angle-dependency such that only deformation along the ultrasound beam can be derived from velocities, while myocardium deforms simultaneously in three dimensions. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a more recent technique that provides a global approach to left ventricular myocardial mechanics, giving information about the three spatial dimensions of cardiac deformation. In this editorial, we describe the physical and pathophysiological concepts of STE, discussing the differences compared to TDI and underlining the pitfalls of this new technique.

The detection of viable myocardium by low‐dose dobutamine stress speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with old myocardial infarction

“…Studies have demonstrated that STE‐based S and Sr from the short axis and long axis of LV myocardial deformation can assess VM in patients with ischemic heart disease . In our study, STE‐based S and Sr at LDDSE had a higher accuracy than semi‐quantitative wall‐motion analysis combined with LDDSE for the assessment of VM.…”

Global longitudinal strain assessment of the left ventricle by speckle tracking echocardiography detects acute cellular rejection in orthotopic heart transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…STE has mitigated the shortcomings of tissue Doppler assessment because it is based on two-dimensional imaging, thus the results are more accurate and reproducible. 14…”

Estimation of Left Ventricular Myocardial Mechanics in Patients with Subclinical Hypothyroidism Using Three-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography

“…Even in the different spatial directions, it provides an insightful look at cardiac remodeling. 12 Global area strain (GAS) that can be acquired using 3D-STE can define the deformation of the endocardial surface during contraction and relaxation of the LV myocardium. Also, LV twist (LVtw) represents a phenomenon that links systolic contraction with diastolic relaxation and plays a major role in cardiac physiology.…”