How can we best visualize the heart’s complex movements? This review explores imaging modalities for quantifying three-dimensional cardiac function. It examines techniques such as X-ray angiography, echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the context of visualizing and quantifying cardiac mechanical function. The review discusses the quantification of ventricular anatomy, myocardial wall motion, and regional strains, highlighting the potential of MRI and tissue Doppler imaging. Calculation of 3-D regional strains from motion maps is reviewed and illustrated with clinical MRI tagging results. The article also presents a promising technique to assess myocardial-fiber architecture, outlining its potential applications, in conjunction with quantification of anatomy and regional strains, for the determination of myocardial stress and work distributions. The quantification of multiple components of 3-D cardiac function holds promise for both fundamental science and clinical applications. Ultimately, enhanced imaging techniques are key to unlocking a deeper understanding of cardiac health.
Published in the Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering, this article aligns with the journal's scope of providing comprehensive reviews of emerging topics in biomedical engineering. By summarizing the state-of-the-art in cardiac imaging and its application to understanding cardiac function, the review contributes to the journal's mission of advancing knowledge in this interdisciplinary field.