Table 1.

Advantages and Limitations of 2D STE

Advantages

Uses standard grey-scale images obtained on routine transthoracic echocardiogram

Good signal to noise ratio; minimal angle dependence

Ability to measure strain in multiple LV segments from a single acquisition

High reproducibility with GLS

Availability of automated post-processing software to streamline GLS measurements requiring minimal user input

Limitations

Accuracy of STE measurements depends on 2D image quality

Inability to track speckles moving out of scan plane of the 2D image

Reproducibility or reliability of segmental strain values not established

Vendor-specific STE techniques:

Intervendor variability in strain measurements

Data stored in proprietary scan line format not analyzable using another vendor software

2D = 2-dimensional; GLS = global longitudinal strain; LV = left ventricle; STE = speckle tracking echocardiography.