O átrio esquerdo (AE) pode aumentar de tamanho e massa por sobrecarga de pressão e volume em várias doenças cardíacas, a exemplo da degeneração da valva mitral. O tamanho do AE é de especial interesse na avaliação da gravidade da doença, uma vez que o grau de aumento será um dos parâmetros para a instituição da terapia. A ecocardiografia é o método padrão para a avaliação não invasiva do paciente cardiopata e sempre inclui a mensuração do tamanho do AE. O modo-M convencional tem sido usado para tal avaliação, contudo, o mesmo tem suas limitações, devido à dificuldade em incluir a porção mais ampla do AE, resultando em um diâmetro e índice AE:AO subestimados. No modo bidimensional o AE pode ser mensurado em sua maior amplitude, resultando em uma medida mais acurada. Assim sendo, o objetivo deste estudo foi comparar os dois métodos, utilizando-se de 40 cães adultos sadios, com idade variando de 1,5 a 7 anos. No modo-M, o AE e a aorta (AO) foram medidos conforme normas da American Society of Echocardiography, no corte longitudinal para-esternal direito, e no modo bidimensional realizaram-se medidas lineares em pontos específicos e em momentos estabelecidos do ciclo cardíaco, no corte transverso para-esternal direito. Estabeleceu-se um índice para cada método, dividindo-se o diâmetro do AE com a AO. Observou-se que a diferença de diâmetro do AE no modo bidimensional (AEB) e do AE no modo-M foi estatisticamente significante (p < 0,001). O mesmo ocorreu com o índice AEB:AOB quando comparado ao índice AEM:AOM, sendo que a média do AEB:AOB = 1,379±0,130; I.C. 95%= 1,337-1,422 e a média do AEM:AOM = 1,067±0,064, I.C. 95%= 1,046-1,088. Observou-se correlação alta entre as medidas do AE, nos dois modos, com superfície de área corpórea e peso (coeficiente de correlação = 0,882-0,896). Ocorreu correlação alta também entre as medidas de AE dos sexos masculino e feminino, pelos dois métodos (p=0,003 e coeficiente de correlação = 0,725-0,732). Com relação aos índices, não houve correlação entre os mesmos e a superfície de área e o peso, podendo-se dizer que são, portanto, índices independentes de peso. O modo bidimensional oferece a possibilidade de aferição do AE em sua maior amplitude, superando assim o modo-M convencional. / The left atrium (LA) can become enlarged in size and mass attributable to both pressure and volume overload in various cardiac diseases, an example is the mitral valve degeneration. The size of LA is of special interest for clinical assessment of severity of the disease, once the degree of enlargement will be one of the parameters for therapy institution. The echocardiography is the standard method of noninvasive evaluation of the cardiac patient and often involves the LA size. The M-mode has been used to this evaluation, however it has inherent limitations, due to the difficulty in including the largest portion of the LA, underestimating the LA diameter and LA:AO index. In the two-dimensional (2D) mode, the LA can be measured at its largest portion and it is likely to be more accurate. The purpose of this study was to compare both methods, using 40 healthy adult dogs, and ages between 1,5 and 7 years old. In the M-mode, the LA and the aorta (AO) was measured according to the guidelines from the American Society of Echocardiography, using a right long-axis view and in the 2D-mode, linear measurements were made at specific time and points of the cardiac cycle, using a right short-axis view. LA:AO ratios were established for each method. The difference between the LA diameter in the 2D-mode (LAB) and in the M-mode (LAM) was significant (p < 0,001). The same has occured with the LAB:AOB index when it was compared with the LAM:AOM ratio. The LAB:AOB index was 1,379±0,130; C.I. 95%= 1,337-1,422 and the LAM:AOM index was 1,067±0,064, C.I. 95%= 1,046-1,088. It was observed high association between LA measurements, in both methods, with body weight and body surface area (correlation coefficient = 0,882-0,896) and also a high correlation between the LA in female and male, in both methods (p=0,003 e correlation coefficient = 0,725-0,732). There was no association between both indices with body weight and body surface area, which provides a body weight - independent measurement of LA size. The 2D - mode offers more accurate LA measurement , so it overcomes the M- mode.

名古屋大学博士学位論文 学位の種類 : 博士(医学)(論文) 学位授与年月日:平成5年2月19日 竹中晃氏の博士論文として提出された

O átrio esquerdo (AE) pode aumentar de tamanho e massa por sobrecarga de pressão e volume em várias doenças cardíacas, a exemplo da degeneração da valva mitral. O tamanho do AE é de especial interesse na avaliação da gravidade da doença, uma vez que o grau de aumento será um dos parâmetros para a instituição da terapia. A ecocardiografia é o método padrão para a avaliação não invasiva do paciente cardiopata e sempre inclui a mensuração do tamanho do AE. O modo-M convencional tem sido usado para tal avaliação, contudo, o mesmo tem suas limitações, devido à dificuldade em incluir a porção mais ampla do AE, resultando em um diâmetro e índice AE:AO subestimados. No modo bidimensional o AE pode ser mensurado em sua maior amplitude, resultando em uma medida mais acurada. Assim sendo, o objetivo deste estudo foi comparar os dois métodos, utilizando-se de 40 cães adultos sadios, com idade variando de 1,5 a 7 anos. No modo-M, o AE e a aorta (AO) foram medidos conforme normas da American Society of Echocardiography, no corte longitudinal para-esternal direito, e no modo bidimensional realizaram-se medidas lineares em pontos específicos e em momentos estabelecidos do ciclo cardíaco, no corte transverso para-esternal direito. Estabeleceu-se um índice para cada método, dividindo-se o diâmetro do AE com a AO. Observou-se que a diferença de diâmetro do AE no modo bidimensional (AEB) e do AE no modo-M foi estatisticamente significante (p < 0,001). O mesmo ocorreu com o índice AEB:AOB quando comparado ao índice AEM:AOM, sendo que a média do AEB:AOB = 1,379±0,130; I.C. 95%= 1,337-1,422 e a média do AEM:AOM = 1,067±0,064, I.C. 95%= 1,046-1,088. Observou-se correlação alta entre as medidas do AE, nos dois modos, com superfície de área corpórea e peso (coeficiente de correlação = 0,882-0,896). Ocorreu correlação alta também entre as medidas de AE dos sexos masculino e feminino, pelos dois métodos (p=0,003 e coeficiente de correlação = 0,725-0,732). Com relação aos índices, não houve correlação entre os mesmos e a superfície de área e o peso, podendo-se dizer que são, portanto, índices independentes de peso. O modo bidimensional oferece a possibilidade de aferição do AE em sua maior amplitude, superando assim o modo-M convencional. / The left atrium (LA) can become enlarged in size and mass attributable to both pressure and volume overload in various cardiac diseases, an example is the mitral valve degeneration. The size of LA is of special interest for clinical assessment of severity of the disease, once the degree of enlargement will be one of the parameters for therapy institution. The echocardiography is the standard method of noninvasive evaluation of the cardiac patient and often involves the LA size. The M-mode has been used to this evaluation, however it has inherent limitations, due to the difficulty in including the largest portion of the LA, underestimating the LA diameter and LA:AO index. In the two-dimensional (2D) mode, the LA can be measured at its largest portion and it is likely to be more accurate. The purpose of this study was to compare both methods, using 40 healthy adult dogs, and ages between 1,5 and 7 years old. In the M-mode, the LA and the aorta (AO) was measured according to the guidelines from the American Society of Echocardiography, using a right long-axis view and in the 2D-mode, linear measurements were made at specific time and points of the cardiac cycle, using a right short-axis view. LA:AO ratios were established for each method. The difference between the LA diameter in the 2D-mode (LAB) and in the M-mode (LAM) was significant (p < 0,001). The same has occured with the LAB:AOB index when it was compared with the LAM:AOM ratio. The LAB:AOB index was 1,379±0,130; C.I. 95%= 1,337-1,422 and the LAM:AOM index was 1,067±0,064, C.I. 95%= 1,046-1,088. It was observed high association between LA measurements, in both methods, with body weight and body surface area (correlation coefficient = 0,882-0,896) and also a high correlation between the LA in female and male, in both methods (p=0,003 e correlation coefficient = 0,725-0,732). There was no association between both indices with body weight and body surface area, which provides a body weight - independent measurement of LA size. The 2D - mode offers more accurate LA measurement , so it overcomes the M- mode.

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is any abnormality in the filling of the left ventricle (LV).  Despite the prevalence of this disease, it remains difficult to diagnose, mainly due to inherent compensatory mechanisms and a limited physical understanding of the filling process.  LV filling can be non-invasively imaged using color m-mode echocardiography which provides a spatio-temporal map of inflow velocity.  These filling patterns, or waves, are conventionally used to qualitatively assess the filling pattern, however, this work aims to physically quantify the filling waves to improve understanding of diastole and develop robust, reliable, and quantitative parameters. This work reveals that LV filling waves in a normal ventricle act as dispersive waves and not only propagate along the length of the LV but also spread and disperse in the direction of the apex.  In certain diseased ventricles, this dispersion is limited due to changes in LV geometry and wall motion.  This improved understanding could aid LVDD diagnostics not only for determining health and disease, but also for distinguishing between progressing disease states. This work also identifies a limitation in a current LVDD parameter, intra ventricular pressure difference (IVPD), and presents a new methodology to address this limitation.  This methodology is also capable of synthesizing velocity information from a series of heartbeats to generating one representative heartbeat, addressing inaccuracies due to beat-to-beat variations.  This single beat gives a comprehensive picture of that specific patient's filling pattern.  Together, these methods improve the clinical utility of IVPD, making it more robust and limiting the chance for a misdiagnosis. / Master of Science

Hjärtats pumpförmåga är en av de olika funktioner som bedöms vid en transthorakal ekokardiografisk (TTE) undersökning. För bedömning av vänsterkammarfunktion finns ett antal olika parametrar som utmärker sig, däremot är känsligheten och specificiteten för de olika parametrarna varierande. Syftet med denna studie var att utföra en jämförelse av konventionella metoder för mätning av vänsterkammarfunktionen med fokus på AV-planets förflyttning och myokardiets kontraktilitet som tyder på ett välfungerande myokard. Bildinsamlingen för projektet har skett i det kliniska flöde av patienter som sedan tidigare är insamlat i anslutning till rutinmässiga undersökningar. De bilder som behövdes för projektet erhölls hos 25 patienter som har genomgått en klinisk undersökning vid Hjärtmottagningen, eko-lab, Skånes Universitetssjukhus, Lund.  Studien baserades på en jämförelse mellan olika konventionella metoder för mätning av systolisk vänsterkammarfunktion; global longitudinell strain (GLS), Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (MAPSE) och Tissue Motion Annular Displacement (TMAD). Resultatet av jämförelsen mellan parametrarna visade statistiskt signifikanta skillnader mellan GLS och TMAD (p &lt;0,001) samt mellan GLS och MAPSE (p &lt;0,001). Däremot erhölls ingen signifikant skillnad mellan ΔTMAD (medelvärde av TMAD i två- och fyrkammar-vy) och ΔMAPSE (medelvärde av MAPSE i två- och fyrkammar-vy). Korrelationsanalysen mellan strain och TMAD (i både fyr-och tvåkammar-vy) samt strain och MAPSE (i fyr-och tvåkammar-vy) påvisade en korrelation. Det erhölls även en stark korrelation mellan ΔTMAD och ΔMAPSE.

Numerous studies have shown that cardiac diastolic dysfunction and diastolic filling play a critical role in dictating overall cardiac health and demonstrated that the filling wave propagation speed is a significant index of the severity of diastolic dysfunction. However, the governing flow physics underlying the relationship between propagation speed and diastolic dysfunction are poorly understood. More importantly, currently there is no reliable metric to allow clinicians the ability to diagnose cardiac dysfunction. There is a greater need than ever for more accurate and robust diagnostic tools with the increasing number of deaths caused by this disease. Color M-mode (CMM) echocardiography is a technique that is commonly used in the diagnosis of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction (LVDD) and is used as the image modality in this work. The motivation for the current work is a hypothesized change in the mechanism driving early diastolic filling. The early filling wave of a healthy patient is driven by a rapid early diastolic relaxation creating a pressure difference within the left ventricle despite the fact the left ventricular volume is increasing. As diastolic dysfunction progresses, the left ventricular relaxation declines and it is hypothesized that the left atrial pressure rises to create the favorable pressure difference needed to drive early diastole. This changes the mechanism driving early diastolic filling from a pulling mechanism primary driven by left ventricular relaxation to a pushing mechanism primarily driven by high left atrial pressure. Within this study, CMM echocardiography images from 125 patients spanning healthy and the three stages of LVDD are analyzed using a newly developed automated algorithm. For the first time, a series of isovelocity contours is utilized to estimate the conventional propagation velocity. A critical point within the early filling wave is quantified as the point of early filling velocity deceleration. The clinically used propagation velocity is compared to a novel critical point propagation velocity calculated as a weighted average of the propagation velocities before and after the critical point showing an increase in the correlation between decreasing diastolic dysfunction stage and decreasing propagation velocity. For the first time the spatial pressure distributions calculated as the pressure relative to the mitral valve pressure at each location from the mitral valve to the ventricular apex, are quantified and analyzed at the instant of peak mitral to apical pressure difference for patients with varying stages of LVDD. The analysis of the spatial pressure distribution revealed three filling regions present in all patients. The pressure filling regions were used to calculate a useful filling efficiency with healthy patients having a useful filling efficiency of 64.8 ± 12.7% and severely diseased filling patients having an efficiency of 37.1 ± 12.1%. The newly introduced parameters and analysis of the CMM echocardiography data supports the hypothesis of a change in the mechanism driving early diastolic efficiency by displaying a decline in the early diastolic propagation velocity earlier into the left ventricle for severely diseased patients than for healthy filling patients and a premature breakup of the progressive pressure gradient fueling early diastolic filling in severely diseased patients. / Master of Science

This thesis introduces a multilinear algebraic framework for computer graphics, computer vision, and machine learning, particularly for the fundamental purposes of image synthesis, analysis, and recognition. Natural images result from the multifactor interaction between the imaging process, the scene illumination, and the scene geometry. We assert that a principled mathematical approach to disentangling and explicitly representing these causal factors, which are essential to image formation, is through numerical multilinear algebra, the algebra of higher-order tensors. Our new image modeling framework is based on(i) a multilinear generalization of principal components analysis (PCA), (ii) a novel multilinear generalization of independent components analysis (ICA), and (iii) a multilinear projection for use in recognition that maps images to the multiple causal factor spaces associated with their formation. Multilinear PCA employs a tensor extension of the conventional matrix singular value decomposition (SVD), known as the M-mode SVD, while our multilinear ICA method involves an analogous M-mode ICA algorithm. As applications of our tensor framework, we tackle important problems in computer graphics, computer vision, and pattern recognition; in particular, (i) image-based rendering, specifically introducing the multilinear synthesis of images of textured surfaces under varying view and illumination conditions, a new technique that we call ``TensorTextures'', as well as (ii) the multilinear analysis and recognition of facial images under variable face shape, view, and illumination conditions, a new technique that we call ``TensorFaces''. In developing these applications, we introduce a multilinear image-based rendering algorithm and a multilinear appearance-based recognition algorithm. As a final, non-image-based application of our framework, we consider the analysis, synthesis and recognition of human motion data using multilinear methods, introducing a new technique that we call ``Human Motion Signatures''.

This thesis introduces a multilinear algebraic framework for computer graphics, computer vision, and machine learning, particularly for the fundamental purposes of image synthesis, analysis, and recognition. Natural images result from the multifactor interaction between the imaging process, the scene illumination, and the scene geometry. We assert that a principled mathematical approach to disentangling and explicitly representing these causal factors, which are essential to image formation, is through numerical multilinear algebra, the algebra of higher-order tensors. Our new image modeling framework is based on(i) a multilinear generalization of principal components analysis (PCA), (ii) a novel multilinear generalization of independent components analysis (ICA), and (iii) a multilinear projection for use in recognition that maps images to the multiple causal factor spaces associated with their formation. Multilinear PCA employs a tensor extension of the conventional matrix singular value decomposition (SVD), known as the M-mode SVD, while our multilinear ICA method involves an analogous M-mode ICA algorithm. As applications of our tensor framework, we tackle important problems in computer graphics, computer vision, and pattern recognition; in particular, (i) image-based rendering, specifically introducing the multilinear synthesis of images of textured surfaces under varying view and illumination conditions, a new technique that we call ``TensorTextures'', as well as (ii) the multilinear analysis and recognition of facial images under variable face shape, view, and illumination conditions, a new technique that we call ``TensorFaces''. In developing these applications, we introduce a multilinear image-based rendering algorithm and a multilinear appearance-based recognition algorithm. As a final, non-image-based application of our framework, we consider the analysis, synthesis and recognition of human motion data using multilinear methods, introducing a new technique that we call ``Human Motion Signatures''.

A avaliação do ventrículo esquerdo (VE) é uma das principais contribuições da ecocardiografia no estudo da função cardíaca e inclui a mensuração dos diâmetros da cavidade e espessura das paredes em diástole e sístole. O estudo por meio do modo M tem sido usado como padrão para a realização da mensuração e para o cálculo de índices sistólicos, mas o modo bidimensional também é utilizado para este fim. As medidas podem ser adquiridas a partir de dois planos de imagem: transversal e longitudinal. A definição de intervalos de confiança para valores normais de VE permite a identificação de remodelamento ventricular, concêntrico ou excêntrico, decorrente de doenças cardiovasculares ou sistêmicas. Assim sendo, o objetivo deste estudo foi comparar as medidas ecocardiográficas desta câmara obtidas pelos seguintes métodos: modo M em corte transversal, modo M em corte longitudinal, modo bidimensional em corte transversal e modo bidimensional em corte longitudinal. Adicionalmente, estudou-se o comportamento do efeito do peso e do sexo nos métodos mencionados. Foram selecionados 40 cães adultos da raça Pastor Alemão sem alterações cardiovasculares. A realização do ecocardiograma de cada animal inclui os quatro métodos descritos acima, de acordo com o recomendado pela literatura. Foram pesquisados os efeitos do corte e do método, bem como a influência do peso e do sexo, sobre cada medida estudada, linear ou derivada. O peso apresentou correlação com todas as medidas lineares de VE em pelo menos um dos métodos, mas não com fração de encurtamento (FE) e fração de ejeção (FEj). Utilizando-se a análise univariada, verificou-se que machos apresentaram todas as medidas estudadas significativamente maiores que fêmeas em pelo menos um dos métodos, exceto FE e FEj, cujos valores não foram diferentes entre os sexos. Observou-se efeito isolado do corte apenas sobre diâmetro diastólico final do ventrículo esquerdo (DdFVE), com medidas maiores obtidas no corte transversal, e mudança de comportamento do sexo nos cortes com influência significativa do peso sobre septo interventricular em diástole (SIVd). Houve efeito isolado do modo sobre os índices de função sistólica FE e FEj, com valores maiores fornecidos pelo modo M. O peso teve efeito isolado positivo sobre parede livre de ventrículo esquerdo em diástole (PLVEd), exceto no modo M em corte transversal e (diâmetro sistólico final de ventrículo esquerdo (DsFVE). O sexo, retirada a influência do peso, teve efeito isolado apenas sobre DdFVE, com machos apresentando valores significativamente maiores que fêmeas em ambos os cortes no modo bidimensional. Os resultados Os resultados mostram que há risco de erro de interpretação quando valores normais de referência, gerados a partir de determinado método, são utilizados para a avaliação de um paciente examinado por técnica de mensuração diversa, especialmente quando se obtém resultados nos limites superior ou inferior de normalidade. / Left ventricle (LV) evaluation is one of the most important contributions of echocardiography in the assessment of cardiac function. It includes measurements of internal diameter and wall thickness at end-diastole and end-sistole of this chamber. M Mode echocardiography has been widely used for measuring linear dimensions and quantifying systolic function, but bidimensional mode is also used with the same purpose. The LV measurement can be derived from transverse or longitudinal images of the heart. The establishment of normal confidence intervals of LV dimensions allows identification of concentric or excentric ventricular remodeling process secondary to cardiovascular and systemic diseases. The aim of this study was to compare LV measurements obtained from four methods: M mode in short-axis, M mode in long-axis, bidimensional mode in short-axis and bidimensional mode in long-axis view of the heart. In addition the effect of weight and gender over measures was studied in the methods mentioned above. Forty adult German Shepherds without cardiovascular diseases were selected. The echocardiogram of each animal included the four described methods, according previous referenced recommendations. The effects of axis and mode as well as weight and gender were studied for each linear or derived LV measure. Weight correlated with all linear LV measures at least in one method, but not with ejection fraction (EF) and shortening fraction (SF). All LV measures of males were greater than those of females at least in one method, except for EF and SF, which did not differ between sexes. Isolated effect of the axis was observed only for LV end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), with greater values obtained from short-axis views. The combined effect of axis, gender and weight was identified in interventricular septal end diastolic thickness. There was isolated effect of mode over EF and SF, with greater measures derived from bidimensional mode methods. Weight had isolated significant positive effect over LV enddiastole posterior wall thickness in all methods, except from M mode performed in short axis, and LV end-sistolic diameter. Gender had isolated effect only over LVEDD, males showing greater values than females in bidimensional mode in short and long axis. Professionals should be aware of the possibility of erroneous interpretation when using data obtained by a different method of that used in the patient exam as reference, mainly for the values situated in inferior and superior limits of confidence intervals.

A avaliação do ventrículo esquerdo (VE) é uma das principais contribuições da ecocardiografia no estudo da função cardíaca e inclui a mensuração dos diâmetros da cavidade e espessura das paredes em diástole e sístole. O estudo por meio do modo M tem sido usado como padrão para a realização da mensuração e para o cálculo de índices sistólicos, mas o modo bidimensional também é utilizado para este fim. As medidas podem ser adquiridas a partir de dois planos de imagem: transversal e longitudinal. A definição de intervalos de confiança para valores normais de VE permite a identificação de remodelamento ventricular, concêntrico ou excêntrico, decorrente de doenças cardiovasculares ou sistêmicas. Assim sendo, o objetivo deste estudo foi comparar as medidas ecocardiográficas desta câmara obtidas pelos seguintes métodos: modo M em corte transversal, modo M em corte longitudinal, modo bidimensional em corte transversal e modo bidimensional em corte longitudinal. Adicionalmente, estudou-se o comportamento do efeito do peso e do sexo nos métodos mencionados. Foram selecionados 40 cães adultos da raça Pastor Alemão sem alterações cardiovasculares. A realização do ecocardiograma de cada animal inclui os quatro métodos descritos acima, de acordo com o recomendado pela literatura. Foram pesquisados os efeitos do corte e do método, bem como a influência do peso e do sexo, sobre cada medida estudada, linear ou derivada. O peso apresentou correlação com todas as medidas lineares de VE em pelo menos um dos métodos, mas não com fração de encurtamento (FE) e fração de ejeção (FEj). Utilizando-se a análise univariada, verificou-se que machos apresentaram todas as medidas estudadas significativamente maiores que fêmeas em pelo menos um dos métodos, exceto FE e FEj, cujos valores não foram diferentes entre os sexos. Observou-se efeito isolado do corte apenas sobre diâmetro diastólico final do ventrículo esquerdo (DdFVE), com medidas maiores obtidas no corte transversal, e mudança de comportamento do sexo nos cortes com influência significativa do peso sobre septo interventricular em diástole (SIVd). Houve efeito isolado do modo sobre os índices de função sistólica FE e FEj, com valores maiores fornecidos pelo modo M. O peso teve efeito isolado positivo sobre parede livre de ventrículo esquerdo em diástole (PLVEd), exceto no modo M em corte transversal e (diâmetro sistólico final de ventrículo esquerdo (DsFVE). O sexo, retirada a influência do peso, teve efeito isolado apenas sobre DdFVE, com machos apresentando valores significativamente maiores que fêmeas em ambos os cortes no modo bidimensional. Os resultados Os resultados mostram que há risco de erro de interpretação quando valores normais de referência, gerados a partir de determinado método, são utilizados para a avaliação de um paciente examinado por técnica de mensuração diversa, especialmente quando se obtém resultados nos limites superior ou inferior de normalidade. / Left ventricle (LV) evaluation is one of the most important contributions of echocardiography in the assessment of cardiac function. It includes measurements of internal diameter and wall thickness at end-diastole and end-sistole of this chamber. M Mode echocardiography has been widely used for measuring linear dimensions and quantifying systolic function, but bidimensional mode is also used with the same purpose. The LV measurement can be derived from transverse or longitudinal images of the heart. The establishment of normal confidence intervals of LV dimensions allows identification of concentric or excentric ventricular remodeling process secondary to cardiovascular and systemic diseases. The aim of this study was to compare LV measurements obtained from four methods: M mode in short-axis, M mode in long-axis, bidimensional mode in short-axis and bidimensional mode in long-axis view of the heart. In addition the effect of weight and gender over measures was studied in the methods mentioned above. Forty adult German Shepherds without cardiovascular diseases were selected. The echocardiogram of each animal included the four described methods, according previous referenced recommendations. The effects of axis and mode as well as weight and gender were studied for each linear or derived LV measure. Weight correlated with all linear LV measures at least in one method, but not with ejection fraction (EF) and shortening fraction (SF). All LV measures of males were greater than those of females at least in one method, except for EF and SF, which did not differ between sexes. Isolated effect of the axis was observed only for LV end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), with greater values obtained from short-axis views. The combined effect of axis, gender and weight was identified in interventricular septal end diastolic thickness. There was isolated effect of mode over EF and SF, with greater measures derived from bidimensional mode methods. Weight had isolated significant positive effect over LV enddiastole posterior wall thickness in all methods, except from M mode performed in short axis, and LV end-sistolic diameter. Gender had isolated effect only over LVEDD, males showing greater values than females in bidimensional mode in short and long axis. Professionals should be aware of the possibility of erroneous interpretation when using data obtained by a different method of that used in the patient exam as reference, mainly for the values situated in inferior and superior limits of confidence intervals.