Determination of left ventricular mass by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography: In vitro validation

Twenty-one explanted fixed hearts (14 dogs and 7 pigs) were examined to val idate newly developed real-time three-dimensional (RT3D) echocardiography f or measurement of left ventricular (LV) mass in vitro and ta compare its ac curacy and variability with those of conventional echocardiographic measure ments. There was an excellent correlation and high degree of agreement for the determination of LV mass between RT3D echocardiography and true mass me asurement (r = 0.98; standard error of the estimate [SEE] = 7.3 g; absolute difference [AD] = 2.8 g; y = 1.00 x -4.0 interobserver variability; 5.0%). The conventional echocardiographic methods yielded weaker correlations, la rger standard errors, and interobserver variability (area-length method: r = 0.90; SEE = 13.3 g; AD = 13.2 g; 13.3 % / truncated ellipsoid method: r 0 .91; SEE = 14.7 g; AD = 10.5 g; 7.9% / M-mode: r = 0.91; SEE = 16.2 g; AD = 9.4 g; 15.3%). Determination of LV mass by RT3D echocardiography has a hig h degree of accuracy and is superior to conventional one- and two-dimension al echocardiographic methods.