Real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography - Can there be one more dimension?

There is an essential importance of non-invasive imaging methods for evaluation of cardiac patients. Theoretically, the heart can be examined exactly, if due to its nature assessed in three dimensions (3D) concerning the heart cycle. In recent studies it has been confirmed that the second-generation real-time three-dimensional echocardiography offers optimal opportunity for three-dimensional evaluation of cardiac structures. Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography is a valuable tool for exact evaluation of ventricular and atrial volumes and ventricular masses. Valves and congenital abnormalities can be analysed 'en-face' with this new methodology. The usefulness of this method with stress protocols has been confirmed. The aim of the present review is to demonstrate advantages of this new promising method showing recent technological limitations as well.

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