(A) Three-dimensional echocardiography. Instead of a single image plane as in two-dimensional echocardiography, a three-dimensional ‘volume data set’ is acquired during scanning. Different post-processing options allow visualization of the data afterwards. In this example, one basal (red rectangle) and one apical (yellow rectangle) short-axis view of the left ventricle as well as an apical long axis (red rectangle) are reconstructed from one and the same apically recorded three-dimensional volume data set. (B) Left, four-chamber view-like cut of data set; note the corrugated left ventricular endocardium in the ‘depth’ of the image (small arrow), which would not be visible on a two-dimensional image. Right, example of short-axis views of the left ventricle extracted from the three-dimensional data set. Arrow points at anterior mitral leaflet, which is open in the upper image and closed in the lower image. Also see 4.1.