Myocardial perfusion imaging with contrast echocardiography.

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. 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. 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. Myocardial contrast echocardiography is an emerging technique capable of rapidly assessing myocardial perfusion at the capillary level in many different clinical settings. This article focuses on myocardial contrast-enhanced ultrasound perfusion techniques, emphasizing the unique information this modality provides compared with other noninvasive perfusion imaging techniques.