Objective To determine the usefulness of tricuspid annular displacement(TAD),based on twodimensional speckle tracking imaging, for assessment of right ventricular(RV)systolic function.Methods Eighteen patientswith dilated cardiomyopathy and 20 age-matched healthy volunteers were in volved. Twodimensional and real-time three-dimensional(RT3D)imaging were obtained in all patients at apical four-chamber view.The parameters of TAD were derived from off-line QLAB software.RT3D-RV ejection fraction(RVEF)was calculated by using 4D RV function software.Results TAD data were acquired in all 38 cases, while RT3D-RVEF was done in 30 out of 38.The parameters of TAD correlated well with RVEF(P<0.01).The parameters of TAD in dilated cardiomyopathy group were significantly lower than the corresponding values in healthy subjects (P<0.01).The intra-and interobserver variabilities for measurement of TAD were(0.49±2.69)mm and(0.21± 0.60)mm, respectively.Conclusions TAD,based on two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging,proved to be a rapid and reproducible method in determining RV global systolic function.

Objective To investigate the preliminary value of mitral annular displacement (MAD) with two-dimensional speckle tracking in evaluating left ventricular systolic function. Methods Forty-nine patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, aged 51±14 years (DCM group), and 43 age-matched (46±14 years) normal subjects (control group) were enrolled in this study. Two-dimensional and real-time three-dimensional (RT3D) imaging were obtained all at the apical four-chamber view. The parameters of MAD and RT3D-LVEF were obtained using off-line QLAB software. Results Compared with control group, MAD reduced significantly in DCM group (P＜0.01). The parameters of MAD correlated positively with LVEF (P＜0.01). The intra- and inter-observer variabilities for measurement of MAD were low. When one point was placed at the chest wall, the ratio of long axis shortening correlated best with LVEF among all the data of MAD. Conclusion Based on two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging, MAD is a rapid and reproducible method of determining LV global systolic function, may even replace LVEF in the future.