Methods of quantitatively analyzing myocardial strain and stain rate

Strain and strain rate as new objective, noninvasive, convenient, accurate, and quantitative parameters can be used to reflect the ability and speed of deformation of the global and regional myocardium, consequently can be used to assess the function of the global and regional myocardium, then to identify the sub-clinical cardiac disease. Strain and strain rate has important value for clinical diagnosis, treatment and prognosis evaluation of cardiac diseases. Currently, noninvasive imaging methods for quantitative measurement of myocardial strain and strain rate are mainly ultrasound imaging, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and cardiac computer tomography. The aim of this paper was to review various noninvasive imaging methods of quantitatively analyzing myocardial strain and strain rate. (authors)