Excess greater left ventricle (LV) trabeculation is associated with decreased average regional myocardial function, measured by myocardial strain. A team of researchers, examining MRIs of 1,123 individuals, found that average regional LV function was worse in those with greater LV trabeculation.

Being a radiologist today can feel a bit like being on the Starship Enterprise: you have all these Star-Trek-like tools at your disposal – devices and applications with the ability to produce incredibly sophisticated digital images and insights that we couldn’t have imagined even twenty years ago. 

European researchers have used 3D ultrasound to measure cortical folding, which increases the surface area of the brain and therefore its processing power, in fetuses with congenital heart defects. Their primary interest was in finding out whether prenatal cardiovascular anomalies affect neurodevelopment, although they also wanted to see if measuring the depths of the crevices reliably indicates the extent of folding.

European researchers have shown that heart imagers can have their MRI and their patients on exercise bikes—pedaling harder and harder—too.

ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 25 — Carestream will showcase its CARESTREAM Touch Prime and Touch Prime XE Ultrasound Systems (see video link) at booth #207 of the Society for Vascular Ultrasound conference that begins on Aug. 3. These systems are currently available in the United States and Canada.

Automated 3D echocardiography (3DE) analysis using a new, commercially available algorithm has allowed University of Chicago researchers to accurately quantify left-heart size and function in two-thirds of 300 consecutive patients. They conclude the technology can be useful in clinical practice despite its known workflow-interruptive drawbacks—especially when the echocardiographer has the know-how to correct for its shortcomings.

Blood leakage is a common complication in patients who’ve had a heart valve replaced with a prosthetic. Soon these patients may benefit by getting their new valves tested, pre-implantation, via 3D “printouts” of their unique valvular tissue rendered from standard heart imaging.

European researchers have confirmed that MRI isn’t precise enough at assessing pulmonary hypertension to outright preclude right-heart catheterization. However, they’ve also shown that the advanced imaging pathway can appropriately supplement echocardiography to avoid such catheterization for patients who may not need the intervention.