This article focuses on myocardial contrast-enhanced ultrasound perfusion techniques, emphasizing the unique information this modality provides compared with other noninvasive perfusion imaging techniques. Myocardial contrast echocardiography is an emerging technique capable of rapidly assessing myocardial perfusion at the capillary level in many different clinical settings. For example, after a heart attack, your doctor may order this test to find areas of damaged heart muscle. It also shows how well the heart muscle is pumping. It is done to show how well blood flows through the heart muscle. The clinical use of myocardial perfusion imaging and the current limitations of existing techniques continue to promote the development of new technologies capable of assessing microvascular and capillary perfusion abnormalities on a global myocardial level. What is a myocardial perfusion scan Myocardial perfusion is an imaging test. This test may be done during rest and while you exercise.
For example, after a heart attack, it may be done to find areas of damaged heart muscle.
Evaluating regional myocardial perfusion abnormalities is a cornerstone for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease, risk assessment in those with known disease, and determination of myocardial viability. It is done to show how well blood flows through the heart muscle.
Advances in myocardial perfusion imaging have firmly established the use of noninvasive techniques capable of providing useful information over a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic cardiovascular problems.