Heyde B, Bouchez S, Thieren S, Vandenheuvel M, Jasaityte R, Barbosa D, Claus P, Maes F, Wouters P, D'Hooge J. Elastic image registration to quantify 3-D regional myocardial deformation from volumetric ultrasound: experimental validation in an animal model.
ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2013;
39:1688-1697. [PMID:
23791543 DOI:
10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2013.02.463]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2013] [Revised: 02/19/2013] [Accepted: 02/24/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Although real-time 3-D echocardiography has the potential to allow more accurate assessment of global and regional ventricular dynamics compared with more traditional 2-D ultrasound examinations, it still requires rigorous testing and validation should it break through as a standard examination in routine clinical practice. However, only a limited number of studies have validated 3-D strain algorithms in an in vivo experimental setting. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to validate a registration-based strain estimation methodology in an animal model. Volumetric images were acquired in 14 open-chest sheep instrumented with ultrasonic microcrystals. Radial strain (ɛRR), longitudinal strain (ɛLL) and circumferential strain (ɛCC) were estimated during different stages: at rest, during reduced and increased cardiac inotropy induced by esmolol and dobutamine infusion, respectively, and during acute ischemia. Agreement between image-based and microcrystal-based strain estimates was evaluated by their linear correlation, indicating that all strain components could be estimated with acceptable accuracy (r = 0.69 for ɛRR, r = 0.64 for ɛLL and r = 0.62 for ɛCC). These findings are comparable to the performance of the current state-of-the-art commercial 3-D speckle tracking methods. Furthermore, shape of the strain curves, timing of peak values and location of dysfunctional regions were identified well. Whether 3-D elastic registration performs better than 3-D block matching-based methodologies still remains to be proven.
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