Three‐Dimensional Speckle‐Tracking Echocardiography: Methodological Aspects and Clinical Potential

Abstract

Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is an advanced echocardiographic technique that allows a novel approach to the assessment of cardiac physiology through the study of myocardial mechanics. In its three-dimensional (3D) modality, it overcomes the drawbacks inherent to other echocardiographic techniques, namely two-dimensional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging. Several research studies and software improvements have led 3D-STE to become a promising tool for accurate evaluation of global and regional cardiac function. This article addresses the image acquisition, analytical methods, and parameters of myocardial mechanics that could be derived from 3D-STE. This systematic guidance may help to establish its usefulness in the global and regional evaluation of cardiac function, and to facilitate its clinical application.

Left ventricular deformation abnormalities in a patient with calpainopathy—a case from the three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiographic MAGYAR-Path Study

“…Exact validated volumetric and functional parameters can be assessed at the same time within a relatively short period of time, followed by a detailed analysis of the volumetric and functional features of the atria and ventricles (21). In addition to volumetric measurements, deformation parameters, including the uniand multidirectional strains of the LV, quantitative features of LV contractility, can be assessed together with parameters characterizing LV rotational mechanics.…”

Correlations between three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography-derived left atrial functional parameters and aortic stiffness in healthy subjects – Results from the MAGYAR-Healthy Study

“…3DSTE is a new non-invasive clinical tool based on frame-by-frame tracking of speckle patterns created by interference of the ultrasound beam within the myocardial tissue in the 3D space (1,22). 3DSTE has been found to be feasible for non-invasive quantification of LA volumes and functional properties allowing complex evaluation of LA phasic function during cardiac cycle which includes (2, 9) ( Fig.…”

“…Arterial stiffness was found to be associated with LA size in different patient populations (12). Three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) seems to be an optimal choice for non-invasive quantification of LV and LA volumes and deformation parameters by 3D volumetric and strain analysis (1,4,7,8,11,13,15,(17)(18)(19)22). The aim of the present study was to determine whether correlations exist between 3DSTE-derived LA volume-based and strain parameters characterizing all phasic functions of the LA and echocardiographic aortic elastic properties in healthy subjects.…”

Incremental value of resting three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in detecting coronary artery disease

“…In addition, 3D-STE is less time-consuming than conventional 2D-STE (10,11). It provides an accurate and convenient assessment of LV function (12) and has been shown to be useful in the detection of subclinical LV dysfunction in patients with early-stage heart failure (13) and hypertension (14).…”