Recent progress in ultrasonic diagnosis of the heart: Doppler flow imaging.

It is appreciated that, linked with B-mode echocardiography, the real-time two-dimensional Doppler flow imaging technique provides information on the heart, which has never been available with conventional methods, greatly improving the capabilities of cardiac ultrasound. In general, the concept of major heart disease consists of anatomical abnormalities and those in intracardiac flow condition. The present method provides information on these two aspects simultaneously; consequently, it is regarded as a closer approach to heart diseases, compared with conventional examinations and techniques. The equipment is also convenient to operate. The combination of real-time two-dimensional Doppler flow imaging and B-mode echocardiography is expected to become a standard tool of the ultrasound examination of the heart.