The Clinical Benefits of Adding a Third Dimension to Assess the Left Ventricle with Echocardiography

Figure 9

Surface rendering display of left ventricular volume. After having identified the endocardial border on the 3 apical slices, the software automatically detects the whole endocardial surface. The accuracy of endocardial border detection on the whole left ventricular circumference can be checked on the transverse slice which can be moved up and down along the left ventricular long axis. Once confirmed by the operator, a 3D cast of the left ventricle is developed and the volume is measured by counting the voxels within the volume.