Speckle tracking echocardiography provides a global approach to evaluating left ventricular myocardial mechanics in three spatial dimensions, overcoming the angle-dependency of tissue Doppler imaging.
Echocardiography is the most common diagnostic method for assessing cardiac function but some limitations affect this technique. Until now, visual assessment of wall motion and thickening has allowed only a subjective evaluation of myocardial function and requires long-term training. Recently, new echocardiographic techniques have been introduced to evaluate myocardial mechanics. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) technique is limited by angle-dependency such that only deformation along the ultrasound beam can be derived from velocities, while myocardium deforms simultaneously in three dimensions. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a more recent technique that provides a global approach to left ventricular myocardial mechanics, giving information about the three spatial dimensions of cardiac deformation. In this editorial, we describe the physical and pathophysiological concepts of STE, discussing the differences compared to TDI and underlining the pitfalls of this new technique.
S. Sitia (Fri,) conducted a editorial in Myocardial function assessment. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) vs. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) was evaluated. Speckle tracking echocardiography provides a global approach to evaluating left ventricular myocardial mechanics in three spatial dimensions, overcoming the angle-dependency of tissue Doppler imaging.