Abstract
Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) is a relatively simple myocardial perfusion imaging technique which should be used in different clinical settings. The ability of MCE to provide a comprehensive assessment of cardiac structure, function, and perfusion is likely to make it the technique of choice for non-invasive cardiac imaging.Contrast agents are encapsulated microbubbles (MB) filled with either air or high-molecular-weight gas. They are innocuous, biologically inert and when administered intravasculary, the sound backscatter from the blood poll is enhanced because MB have the enormous reflective ability due to a large acoustic impedance mismatch between the bubble gas and surrounding blood.MCE is an ideal imaging tool for the assessment of left heart contrast and the myocardial microcirculation. MCE detects contrast MB at the capillary level within the myocardium and, thus, has the potential to assess tissue viability and the duration of the contrast effect. MCE was equivalent to SPECT for the detection of CAD with a tendency toward higher sensitivity of MCE compared with SPECT in microvascular disease and CAD. MCE is also a bedside technique that can be used early in patients presenting with acute heart failure to rapidly assess LV function (regional and global) and perfusion (rest and stress).
Highlights
Contrast agents are encapsulated microbubbles (MB) filled with either air or high-molecular-weight gas
Perfusion techniques like single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) may suffer from low specificity, because hypertensive patients may have microvascular disease in the absence of large vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) and often asymetrical left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which result in a relative difference in tracer uptake leading to apparent perfusion abnormalities even in the absence of microvascular disease and CAD
In the study by Aggeli et al Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) was equivalent to SPECT for the detection of CAD with a tendency toward higher sensitivity of MCE compared with SPECT. The latter is likely because MCE, by virtue of its superior spatial resolution compared with SPECT, is likely to identify mild subendocardial ischemia due to CAD more effectively
Summary
Contrast agents are encapsulated microbubbles (MB) filled with either air or highmolecular-weight gas. They are innocuous, biologically inert and when administered intravasculary, the sound backscatter from the blood poll is enhanced (non-linear acoustic behaviour) because MB have the enormous reflective ability due to a large acoustic impedence mismatch between the bubble gas contenent and surrounding blood. The ability of MB to produce strong backscattered acoustic signal is based on their compressibility, which depends on the viscoelastic and pressure properties of the shell and gas. The interaction between MB and US produces compression during pressure peaks and expansion during pressure nadirs It appears a remarkable and fortuitous coincidence that gas bubbles of a size required to cross the pulmonary capillary vascular resonate in a frequency range of 1.5–7 MHz, precisely that used in diagnostic US echocardiography.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
