Anatomic M-Mode, A Pertinent Tool for the Daily Practice of Transthoracic Echocardiography

Donal, Erwan MD
Coisne, Damien MD, PhD
Pham, Ban MD
Ragot, Stephanie PhD
Herpin, Daniel MD, PhD
Thomas, James D. MD

Departement de Cardiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La Miletrie, Poitiers, France; and Section of Cardiovascular Imaging, Department of Cardiology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (E.D., J.D.T.), Cleveland, Ohio.

Reprint requests: Erwan Donal, MD, Departement de Cardiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La Miletrie, 86021 Poitiers, France (E-mail: [email protected]).

Supported in part by Grant NCC 9-58, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Houston, Texas (Dr Thomas); and a grant from the French Federation of Cardiology (Dr Donal).

Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography 17(9):p 962-967, September 2004.

Objectives

We sought to compare anatomic M-mode (AMM), a new echocardiographic postprocessing option, and conventional M-mode (CMM) using fundamental imaging and tissue harmonic imaging.

Methods

Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 15 selected patients to analyze the reproducibility of AMM and in 47 patients to assess its clinical value versus CMM. Acquisitions were performed successively: CMM fundamental imaging; CMM tissue harmonic imaging; tissue harmonic imaging cineloops for AMM; and fundamental imaging cineloops for AMM. Quantitative analysis was performed offline. The angle α between the CMM line and the septal endocardial interface was calculated and the expected percentage of error in measuring left ventricular diameter was derived.

Results

AMM analysis was reproducible. Optimal AMM full echocardiographic definition was obtainable in 77% of the population, whereas CMM was optimal for 49% because of scan line misalignment, causing a measurement overestimation exceeding 5%.

Conclusion

The ability with AMM to reduce the α angle to 0 degrees and, thus, avoid overestimation of left ventricular dimensions might improve follow-up in several pathologic conditions.