2D echocardiographic estimation of left ventricular volumes

The endocardium of the apical two- and four-chamber echocardiographic views in systole and diastole is traced manually. The digitized tracings are automatically calibrated and can be analyzed according to a number of algorithms. In this case, the computer has analyzed the orthogonal tracings according to the method of discs algorithm by dividing each image into 20 equal slices. Each slice is matched to its counterpart in the orthogonal view, and each pair is extrapolated into a circular disc. This disc is stacked with the others forming a stack of coins, the volume of each contributing to a sum that closely approximates the volume of the chamber.