Echo Basics

Question 1

Which type of echo is site specific?

Answer 1

Pulsed wave

Question 2

What is it called when there is aliasing of an echo signal when velocities reach one-half of the pulse repetition frequency in PW echo?

Answer 2

Nyquist limit; this limits the maximal velocity that can be measured with PW doppler.

Question 3

What type of echo is typically used to measure high velocity jets and gradients?

Answer 3

Continuous wave doppler

Question 4

How does color flow imaging work?

Answer 4

Computer enhanced PULSED WAVE doppler echo that displays velocity and directional info of blood flow. Subject to aliasing with velocities beyond the Nyquist limit.

BART = Blue away, Red towards

Question 5

What type of imaging is used for assessment of mitral annular motion (part of a comprehensive diastolic function assessment)?

Answer 5

Tissue doppler imaging is used to eval the mitral annulus motion velocity changes. The ratio of peak early mitral diastolic LV filling velocity (E) to the mitral annulus velocity (e’) – (E/e’) provides an excellent assessment of LV diastolic filling pressures in sinus rhythm and in a fib.

Question 6

Where is it recommended that LVEDD, LVESD and wall thickness be measured?

Answer 6

At the level of the LV minor axis, approximately at the mitral valve leaflet tips. ULN of LVEDD is about 5.5 cm.

Question 7

In what ways is LA size measured?

Answer 7

1. Single dimension M-mode

2. Biplane area length and biplane Simpson summation of discs indexed to BSA (used for LA volume)

Question 8

List 3 criteria for Noncompaction

Answer 8

1. At least 40% of the myocardium is involved
2. Ratio of non-compacted to compacted myocardium is 2.3:1
3. At least 3 deep recesses seen in a single view