Table 1.

Relative advantages and disadvantages of clinically available imaging modalities for LVEF evaluation.

Imaging Modality	Advantages	Disadvantages
Trans-Thoracic Echocardiography (TTE)	Wide availability High cost effectiveness Real-time images No ionizing radiation Minimal tissue effects	Depends on acoustic window and operator experience Depends on geometric assumptions
Contrast-TTE	Improved accuracy Reduced inter- and intra-observer variability	Low reproducibility Underestimation of volumes in apical fore-shortening
3D-TTE	No geometric assumption Improved accuracy	Suboptimal spatial resolution
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR)	No geometric assumption No ionizing radiation High reproducibility High spatial and temporal resolution No contrast administration	High cost Low availability and expertise Non-MR conditional devices
Computed Tomography (CT)	High spatial resolution Simultaneous coronary imaging	Ionizing radiation exposure Low temporal resolution Contrast administration
Nuclear Cardiology Imaging	Wide availability Simultaneous perfusion imaging	High dose of radiation exposure Low temporal resolution