The impact of three dimensional imaging in the characterization of patients with volume overload

3D imaging techniques provide many data, and in some cases the information is redundant. In the absence of a cross standardization, the clinicians should select those measurements that will result useful in clinical decision-making. Volume overload is a common finding in several cardiac disorders, and it is usually caused by different pathologies such as hypertension, valvular disease, myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathies. In each disease major therapeutical interventions that may control symptoms and improve outcome still show a significant number of non-responders and the identification of those patients who will benefit from high cost treatments could optimise clinical resources and limit costs of patient's care.