Three-dimensional echocardiography.

Abstract

Three-dimensional echocardiography depicts the heart and its structures in their realistic forms. This capability decreases variability both in the quality and the interpretation of complex pathology, among investigators. Therefore, it is likely that the method will become the standard echocardiography examination in the future. The availability and versatility in use of the volumetric data set allow us to retrieve an infinite number of cardiac cross-sections, and thus, more accurate and reproducible measurements of valve areas, masses, and cavity volumes by obviating geometric assumptions. In the future, new physiologic parameters will provide additional information and address new clinical questions.