Advances in echocardiography

Echocardiography is the most commonly used cardiac imaging modality. It consists of multiple imaging techniques that provide a comprehensive assessment of the structure and function of the heart in one simple examination. Although the fundamental echocardiographic techniques—M-mode and two-dimensional imaging, spectral and colour flow Doppler, and their combinations have been established for many years, new modifications of these technologies have recently been described or are undergoing continued clinical evaluation. As these new techniques mature, existing methods such as contrast and stress echocardiography continue to be refined. These advances provide better diagnostic information and guide therapy and risk stratification.