Three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3D STE)
3D STE is a novel imaging technique that evaluates myocardial
deformation using 3D full-volume images. It is limited to research and
not available for routine use, but it appears to be a promising tool for
the assessment of the complex RV myocardial motion [64]. A study by
Field et al. showed favourable results concerning the ability of 3D STE
to detect subclinical biventricular dysfunction after anthracycline
chemotherapy [31]. Magunia et al. found that 3D strain of the RVFW
is a predictor of mortality in LVAD recipients [60]. Smith et al.
evaluated the utility of 3D STE for RV assessment in a cohort of
patients with pulmonary hypertension of different aetiologies (including
left heart disease) and found out that RV area-strain derived from 3D
STE correlated well with RVEF and was an independent predictor of
mortality [65].