Summary This chapter provides several examples of how to crop a real-time three-dimensional (RT3D) image to show a particular structure of interest. Q-lab, a software program developed by Philips Medical Systems, is used in the examples, but other similar software…
Introduction Perhaps no finding on echocardiography creates a bigger diagnostic challenge than the presence of an intracardiac mass. This is because tissue characterization by any imaging modality is limited. The advent of tomographic imaging in general, including computed tomography (CT),…
The pulmonary valve is the smallest valve in the body and, in keeping with its size, plays a relatively uncommon role in adult cardiology. Despite the limited involvement of the pulmonary valve in adult cardiac disorders, it is important to…
Introduction The tricuspid valve is the largest of the four heart valves and ranges from 4 to 6 cm 2 in area. The tricuspid valve has anterior, septal, and posterior leaflets. The anterior leaflet usually is the largest, with a width…
Introduction Although echocardiography is the imaging modality of choice for cardiac heart valves, it still has significant limitations when imaging prosthetic cardiac valves. These limitations are significant with bioprosthetic valves and are particularly problematic with mechanical valves. The classic limitation…
Introduction Mitral stenosis is quite uncommon in Western countries, yet it still is a frequent problem worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The low incidence in the United States, in particular, is largely because rheumatic fever resulting in rheumatic heart disease…
Introduction The aortic valve is the third largest valve in the body, behind the tricuspid and mitral valves, and has a typical valve area of 3 to 4 cm 2 . Despite its smaller size, it is arguably the most important…
Introduction Two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) has been one of the most established and ubiquitous diagnostic tools in cardiology over the past several decades. Echocardiography has come a long way from the early years of A and M modalities. Although transthoracic and…
Introduction Three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) has been in existence since the 1970s, albeit with images that barely resembled a heart at that time. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, 3DE was limited by computing power, both at the workstation and at the…
Mitral stenosis (MS) is the most common form of rheumatic valve disease and produces significant disability, particularly in young and middle-aged adults. , Patients with severe MS usually develop fatigue, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and thromboembolism. Of the many causes…