Reproducibility of contrast-enhanced echocardiography for measurements of left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular volume in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess the reproducibility of contrast-enhanced echocardiography and conventional echocardiography for measurements of left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) and left ventricular volume in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. Methods One hundred and two patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy were divided into satisfactory image group(36 subjects) and unsatisfactory image group(66 subjects) according to the quality of the recorded images.High frame rate two-dimensional and three-dimensional images were recorded from apical long-axis view,four-chamber view and two-chamber view of left ventricle. Contrast-enhanced echocardiography was performed in the unsatisfactory image group.Two equally experienced examiners measured the LVEF and left ventricular volume in all patients by EchoPac software. Results The reproducibilities of Simpson′s biplane method and 3D full-volume echocardiography were low for measurements of LVEF in unsatisfactory image group ( P < 0.01).But they were improved significantly with contrast-enhanced echocardiography ( P > 0.05 ). The reproducibilities of Simpson′s biplane method and 3D full-volume echocardiography for measurements of left ventricular end-diastolic volume in unsatisfactory image group were also improved by performing contrast-enhanced echocardiography ( P > 0.05). The reproducibilities for measurements of left ventricular end-systolic volume were well in both group.Conclusions The reproducibilities for measurements of LVEF and left ventricular volume are improved in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy with unsatisfactory images by using contrast-enhanced echocardiography.