Cor Vasa 2008, 50(1):28-33 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2008.014

Speckle tracking echocardiography - a new tool for quantification of myocardial function

Jaroslav Meluzín, Helena Podroužková, Martin Pešl, Pavel Leinveber, Marek Orban

I. interní kardioangiologická klinika, Fakultní nemocnice u sv. Anny, Brno, Česká republika

The aim of this paper is to provide a summary of the current knowledge of a new echocardiographic method - speckle tracking echocardiography. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) allows frame-to-frame tracking of acoustic markers (speckles) in 2-dimensional echocardiographic images. Based on relative changes in speckle position, the method enables simultaneous quantification of myocardial deformation in 2 dimensions. Such speckle tracking is direction-independent. Using various echocardiographic views, STE allows quantifying longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain, and strain rate in all myocardial segments. In addition, the method can be utilized to assess myocardial torsion as a difference between the apical and basal rotation of the left ventricle. To date, STE has been successfully used to quantify regional and global left ventricular function, to detect myocardial ischemia, to assess asynchrony of the left ventricular contraction, and to differentiate between subendocardial and transmural myocardial infarction. In experimental settings, it was found to provide exact information on myocardial viability. However, studies using STE are still few in number. Thus, further projects are necessary to definitely determine the role of this method in clinical practice.

Keywords: Speckle tracking echocardiography; Myocardial function; Strain

Published: January 1, 2008  Show citation