Assessment of Myocardial Perfusion by Contrast Echocardiography - Ready for Clinical Practice?

Journal of Clinical and Basic Cardiology 2002; 5 (2): 145-148

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Keywords: Echokardiographie,  Kontrastmittel,  Koronare Herzkrankheit,  myokardiale Kontrast-Echokardiographie,  Myokardperfusion,  coronary artery disease,  echocardiography,  myocardial contrast echocardiography,  myocardial perfusion,  ultrasound contrast agent

Increasing interest has been focused on myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) since latest ultrasound-specific imaging modalities allow the detection of ultrasound contrast agents within the myocardium after intravenous injection. Due to significant improvements in imaging technology MCE has become a valuable add-on tool for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. This review summarizes and estimates the clinical value of recent developments in myocardial contrast echocardiography, particularly with regard to the new real-time perfusion imaging, which allows simultaneous assessment of perfusion and wall-motion.