ABSTRACT

Echocardiography is a combination of complementary techniques. These techniques are

two-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler ultrasound. Two-dimensional echocar-

diography displays three-dimensional structures in a two-dimensional format. It is an

excellent method to interrogate anatomical structures. Fortunately, the high resolution of

today’s echocardiography technology enables very detailed examination of cardiac

anatomy. Although two-dimensional echocardiography reveals much information about

anatomy, it provides no information about blood flow and the forces associated with this

flow. Doppler ultrasound provides this information. Doppler ultrasound is used to

examine blood flow in terms of direction, velocity, and pattern of flow. It is a quantitative

process and can be used as a means of grading disease severity. Two-dimensional

echocardiography, on the other hand, can be used to diagnosis the disease itself. Two-

dimensional echocardiography and Doppler ultrasound are complementary in that the first

is used to evaluate structure and the second is used to evaluate function. Understanding

the value and limitations of Doppler ultrasound is essential to understanding the

diagnostic utility of ultrasound as a whole.