Abstract
It is now possible to perform myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) at the bedside with intravenous injection of commercially available contrast media. Detecting coronary stenosis and myocardial viability in patients is the major aim of anMCE study, but its diagnosis has relied largely on subjective interpretation of regional perfusion by experienced readers. Thus, quantifying MCE data and displaying comprehensive images have been be necessary for its routine application. In this review, two methods for quantifying and displaying MCE parameters will be introduced: 1) parametric imaging that separately displays the parameters of myocardial blood volume, blood flow velocity, and myocardial blood flow; and 2) volumetric imaging that displays a color-coded map of myocardial blood volume fraction. Both methods of analysis provide quantitative and easy-to-understand images even to unexperienced observers.
