BACKGROUND Left ventricular (LV) mass is an important prognostic indicator in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Although LV mass can be easily calculated using conventional echocardiography, it is based on geometric assumptions and has inherent limitations in asymmetric left ventricles. Real-time three-dimensional echocardiographic (RT3DE) imaging with single-beat capture provides an opportunity for the accurate estimation of LV mass. The aim of this study was to validate this new technique for LV mass measurement in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

METHODS Sixty-nine patients with adequate two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional echocardiographic image quality underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and echocardiography on the same day. Real-time three-dimensional echocardiographic images were acquired using an Acuson SC2000 system, and CMR-determined LV mass was considered the reference standard. Left ventricular mass was derived using the formula of the American Society of Echocardiography (M-mode mass), the 2D-based truncated ellipsoid method (2D mass), and the RT3DE technique (RT3DE mass).

RESULTS The mean time for RT3DE analysis was 5.85 ± 1.81 min. Intraclass correlation analysis showed a close relationship between RT3DE and CMR LV mass (r = 0.86, P < .0001). However, LV mass by the M-mode or 2D technique showed a smaller intraclass correlation coefficient compared with CMR-determined mass (r = 0.48, P = .01, and r = 0.71, P < .001, respectively). Bland-Altman analysis showed reasonable limits of agreement between LV mass by RT3DE imaging and by CMR, with a smaller positive bias (19.5 g [9.1%]) compared with that by the M-mode and 2D methods (-35.1 g [-20.2%] and 30.6 g [17.6%], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS RT3DE measurement of LV mass using the single-beat capture technique is practical and more accurate than 2D or M-mode LV mass in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.