Transesophageal echo computer tomography: a new method for dynamic 3-D imaging of the heart (echo-CT)

Seeing the heart; the success story of cardiac imaging

“…Recently, new computer technologies have enabled the development of volume-rendered data which display tissue information possible [24,25] even in real-time [26] . In the coming years this modality will further strengthen the diagnostic capabilities of cardiac ultrasound.…”

“…Prinzmetal et al [52] produced the first precordial time-activity curves using 24 Na and Rejali [53] the first blood pool image. Thallium-201 was introduced in 1970 by Kawana et al [54] for myocardial perfusion imaging and the linear relationship between 201 TL and myocardial blood flow was demonstrated by Strauss et al [55] in 1975.…”

Dynamic Three-Dimensional Echocardiography Using Parallel Slicing: A Promising Diagnostic Procedure in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease

“…The transducer, which is advanced by a computer-controlled step motor, moves from the apex to the basis of the heart in increments of 0.5-1.0 mm, at each step recording one complete cardiac cycle at 25 frames/s ( fig. 1) [10]. The respiratory phase and RR interval criteria are set and must be met before digital recording of a cardiac cycle.…”

Comparison of three dimensional echocardiographic findings with anatomical specimens of various congenitally malformed hearts.

“…At each step a tomographic slice of the heart is recorded producing a dataset of 176 parallel slices when the transducer is moved from the apex of the heart to the outflow tracts. 4 For this study the external scan frame containing the transducer was positioned on a tripod placed over a bucket filled with water. A non-echogenic fish-net was used to suspend the heart specimen inside the bucket.…”