Method for estimating right ventricular volume by planes applicable to cross-sectional echocardiography: correlation with angiographic formulas.

Right ventricular (RV) volumes determined by echocardiography were compared with those measured using established angiographic formulas. RV cast displacement volumes were first correlated with data derived from radiographic images of the casts corresponding to standard angiographic RV views. Four established angiographic formulas (Ferlinz, Boak, Fisher and Thilenius) correlated well with cast volume, with the corrected prism method of Fisher showing a best fit (r = 0.98, y = 1.1 + 0.9 x, standard error of the estimate = 3.6). Cast volumes calculated using our echocardiographic formula were then examined relative to the volumes derived from radiographic images of the RV casts. Volumes calculated using the corrected area-length Thilenius formula correlated best with those obtained using our derived 2-dimensional echocardiographic formula (r = 0.96, y = 4.6 + 1.0 x, standard error of the estimate = 6.8). These data confirm that volume calculated using the suggested optimal echocardiographic formula correlates well with volume obtained using derived angiographic data. Accordingly, confirmation in humans by the use of angiography is a rational step.