Three-dimensional echocardiography in various types of heart disease: a comparison study of magnetic resonance imaging and 64-slice computed tomography in a real-world population.

BACKGROUND: Accurate quantification of left ventricular (LV) volumes [end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV)] and ejection fraction (EF) is of critical importance. The development of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) has shown better correlation than two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements. The aim of our study was to assess the accuracy of RT3DE and 64-slice computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of LV volumes and function using MRI as the reference standard in a real-world population with various types of heart disease with different chamber geometry. METHODS: The study population consisted of 66 patients referred for cardiac MRI for various pathologies. All patients underwent cardiac MRI, and RT3DE and 64 slices CT were then performed on a subsequent day. The study population was then divided into 5 clinical groups depending on the underlying heart disease. RESULTS: RT3DE volumes correlated well with MRI values (R 2 values: 0.90 for EDV and 0.94 for ESV). RT3DE measurements of EF correlated well with MRI values (R 2 = 0.86). RT3DE measurements resulted in slightly underestimated values of both EDV and ESV, as reflected by biases of -9.18 and -4.50 mL, respectively. Comparison of RT3DE and MRI in various types of cardiomyopathies showed no statistical difference between different LV geometrical patterns. CONCLUSION: These results confirm that RT3DE has good accuracy in everyday clinical practice and can be of clinical utility in all types of cardiomyopathy independently of LV geometric pattern, LV diameter or wall thickness, taking into account a slight underestimation of LV volumes and EF compared to MRI.

Ischemic stroke and incidental finding of a right atrial lipoma.

A young man presented with recurrent ischemic stroke under antiplatelet therapy. A patent foramen ovale (PFO) was diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and the patient was referred to our institution for percutaneous closure. An echogenic mass in the right atrium was detected during the intraprocedural TEE. The interventional team decided to perform transcatheter closure of PFO under fluoroscopy and TEE guide, without complications. Subsequent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging confirmed an encapsulated and hyperintense mass located in the roof of the right atrium. The signal intensity pattern and the absence of gadolinium contrast uptake allowed a confident diagnosis of lipoma. Cardiac lipoma accounts for about 10% of primary cardiac tumors and frequently rises from the epicardial fat tissue. Echocardiographic images can remain equivocal about the nature of the mass and CMR offers a substantial contribution to a correct diagnosis. The tumor usually appears encapsulated and asymptomatic, but dyspnea, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias and, rarely, peripheral embolization have been reported. To our knowledge, this is the second case reported on paradoxical embolization associated with right atrial lipoma. Although the relationship of cardiac lipoma with stroke is not well defined, the potential proembolic significance of this lesion cannot be excluded, especially when a PFO coexists.