Shunichi Homma

Margaret Millikin Hatch Professor, Department of Medicine

Education
A.B., Biology/Art History, Dartmouth College, 1977
M.D., Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1981
Intern & Resident, Internal Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 1981-1984
Research Fellow, Noninvasive Cardiac Imaging, Mass. General Hospital, 1984-1986
Fellow, Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 1984-1986
Clinical Fellow, Cardiology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, 1986-1988

Research Summary
The clinical echocardiography laboratory includes 16 rooms, 6 echocardiography machines, and a variety of probes including 2.5 MHz, 3.5 MHz, 7.5 MHz and 12 MHz phased array probes, as well as 5 MHz and 7.5 MHz linear array probes. Approximately 10,000 clinical studies are performed each year. In addition to the quantitative software incorporated into each of the echocardiography machines, the laboratory is equipped with NIH image analysis software on personal computers. The laboratory recently purchased a Janus-1, 3-D ultrasound system (3-D Ultrasound, Durham North Carolina). This machine allows for imaging of a volume rather than a 2-D sector, minimizing the need for geometric assumption in volume calculations. For the purpose of animal imaging, 300 sq. ft. of dedicated laboratory space is located on the 9th floor of Physicians and Surgeons building. For imaging small animal hearts, the Hewlett-Packard Sonos 5500 echocardiography machine with the newly available 12 MHz phased array probe is capable of transthoracically imaging a heart of 10g mouse in 2-dimensions. This machine captures over 130 frames per second of 2-dimensional (2-D) images, making it ideal for imaging dynamic changes in the hearts of small animals with rapid heart rates. This equipment can perform color-flow Doppler imaging as well as conventional M-mode imaging and has built-in software for quantitative image analysis.

Recent Publications
Takuma S, Zwas D, Ota T, Di Tullio MR, Chaudhry H, Homma S. Feasibility of obtaining all standard 2-dimensional views from 2-volume sets using real-time 3-dimensional imaging. J Am Soc Echo 1999;12:1-6.

Zwas D, Takuma S, Woo H, Di Tullio MR, Mullis S, Homma S. Feasibility of stress treadmill testing using real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography. J Am Soc Echo 1999;12:285-9.

Takuma S, Ota T, Muro T, Oropesa I, Sciacca R, Mendoza L, Di Tullio MR, Blood DK, Yoshikawa J, Homma S. Assessment of left ventricular mass by real-time 3D echocardiography compared with conventional noninvasive methods. (submitted)

Takuma S, Ota T, Muro T, Oropesa I, Di Tullio MR, Blood DK, Yoshikawa J, Homma S. Assessment of left ventricular function by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography compared with conventional noninvasive methods. (submitted)