Inhomogeneity of left ventricular apical rotation during the heart cycle assessed by ultrasound cardiography

Efficient function of the left ventricle involves a wringing motion that facilitates ejection and filling. Previous studies reported that various pathologies, even at their early stages, affect the left ventricular global and local rotation. The present study was undertaken to develop myocardial rotation mapping technique of high spatial and temporal resolutions. Rotation maps were derived by processing of apical short-axis cine-echocardiograms in 10 normal human subjects utilizing a novel ultrasound speckle tracking method and high resolution processing. The results show heterogeneity among myocardial layers and at different locations, with larger rotations of the inner layers, and of the posterior wall versus the septum. Thus, echocardiographic mapping of LV rotation is feasible, allowing assessment of myocardial functional heterogeneity that may provide early indication of pathologies and remodeling.