INTRODUCTION
Quantification of left ventricular size and function from
echocardiography is important in the diagnosis, prognosis, and
management of pediatric heart disease.1 With rapid
improvement in technology, three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE)
evaluation of left ventricular (LV) volume and function in pediatrics
compares favorably with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)2-5. However, a multicenter trial, to assess
reproducibility, has not been done in the pediatric population.
Recent technological advances allow fully automated quantification
(without edits to LV contouring borders) of left heart chamber by 3DE,
thus potentially reducing the time and difficulty, and potentially
increasing the reliability of the LV volume quantification. Automated
contouring might enhance the adoption of 3DE quantification of LV that
can be incorporated into routine clinical practice.
A multicenter trial would provide important data concerning the
reproducibility of 3DE to measure LV volumes and function. Such a
large-scale study would also allow for generation of normative data in
pediatric patients. Moreover, such a study could also evaluate the
differences between automated and semi-automated quantification
software. Thus, the aims of this study were to evaluate the feasibility
and reproducibility of measuring 3D volumes and function in young
pediatric patients in a multicenter trial; and to determine if automated
software (without contouring edits) will improve the reproducibility in
volume and function analysis; and thus establish normal z score values
in this unique population.