Key result
New echocardiographic techniques, such as 3D imaging, tissue Doppler, and 2D strain imaging, provide improved prognostic value and accuracy for assessing left atrial size and function.
Advanced echocardiographic techniques like 3D, tissue Doppler, and strain imaging offer superior assessment of left atrial size and function over traditional methods.
May refine left atrial assessment clinically; leaves open prospective outcome validation before practice change.
Echocardiographic assessment of left atrial size from M-mode or 2D echocardiography measurements has been used in clinical and research studies for years, but its accuracy is now questioned. New techniques, such as 3D and tissue Doppler imaging, assessing velocities, strain and strain rate, provide improved prognostic value in a wide range of diseases. 2D strain imaging using speckle tracking on B-mode images may yield even better, angle-independent, results than tissue Doppler imaging-derived strain echocardiography. Finally, velocity vector imaging is a novel image analysis technique that may be used to quantify left atrial volume.
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Vizzardi et al. (2012) conducted a review in Left atrial size and function assessment. Advanced echocardiographic techniques (3D, tissue Doppler, 2D strain, velocity vector imaging) vs. M-mode or 2D echocardiography was evaluated. New echocardiographic techniques, such as 3D imaging, tissue Doppler, and 2D strain imaging, provide improved prognostic value and accuracy for assessing left atrial size and function.
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