Three-dimensional echocardiography and mitral valve disease.

Three-dimensional echocardiography is a growing imaging modality, particularly for the evaluation of mitral valve pathology. Functional anatomy in disease states such as mitral regurgitation and stenosis as well as prosthetic valves can be effectively studied, offering superior knowledge to treating physicians. Additionally, three-dimensional echocardiography has the ability to help guide operative and percutaneous interventions, allowing for improved patient outcomes and advancement of clinical research. Continued experience with three-dimensional echocardiography will further our knowledge of the mitral valve and refine current indications for cardiovascular imaging.