Echocardiography

Cardiac ultrasound uses reflected sound waves (echos) to create images of anatomy inside the body. Echocardiograms are the primary cardiac imaging modality used to assess the heart and diagnose or track cardiac issues. Echo is the gold standard imaging modality to assess the heart, particularly with calculating left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), which is a measure of cardiac output. In addition to noninvasive standard transthoracic echo (TTE), invasive transesophgeal echo (TEE) is also used when clearer, more detailed imaging of the heart is needed. Both 3D and 4D echo echo systems are rapidly gaining wider adoption and enable new types of assessments, especially in the structural heart space and in transcatheter procedural guidance. Find news on general ultrasound imaging.

American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) President David H. Wiener, MD, FACC, FAHA, FASE, director of clinical operations at the Jefferson Heart Institute, and a clinical professor of medicine at Thomas Jefferson University, explains the growing number of multimodality cardiac imaging experts and how imaging societies need to change to meet their needs.

Societies must adapt to the rise of multimodality cardiac imaging

ASE President David Wiener detailed some of the many ways imaging societies need to adapt now that so many imagers are specializing in multiple modalities. It may be time to change how annual conferences are scheduled, for example, so that the costs of travel are easier to manage.

old woman or doctor shaking hands with patient

Women are more likely to have severe aortic stenosis missed on echocardiography results

Three out of four TTEs are being ordered by clinicians who are not cardiologists. Could this be having a negative impact on patient care?

Siemens Healthineers and Boston Scientific partner on next-generation intracardiac echo for LAAO

The agreement also will make Boston Scientific the exclusive distributor for the new ICE catheter optimized for left atrial appendage occlusion workflows.

Dr. Nee Khoo, director of the echocardiography lab, Stollery Children’s Hospital, Edmonton, Canada, explains the rapidly growing adoption of pediatric 3D transesophageal echo (TEE) to not only preplan, but also guide and assess the results of congenital heart surgeries.

The push to get 3D echo into the congenital operating room

Nee Khoo, MBChB, director of the echocardiography lab at Canada's Stollery Children’s Hospital, explains the rapid adoption of pediatric 3D transesophageal echo.

ASE leading push to revise CPT code for interventional echocardiography

The pressure is on for ASE and other societies to create a new CPT code for the use of interventional echocardiography during structural heart procedures.

As cancer therapies become increasingly targeted and complex, the need for sophisticated cardiovascular monitoring has grown in parallel. Cardiovascular Business spoke with Daniel Addison, MD, director of the cardio-oncology program at The Ohio State University and chair of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Cardiac Imaging Committee, who said the use of multimodality imaging is transforming how clinicians manage cardiovascular risk in cancer patients and survivors.

Multimodality imaging is more important than ever to the field of cardio-oncology

“Multimodality imaging in cardio-oncology is something many of us in the field are truly excited about," Daniel Addison, MD, told Cardiovascular Business. He noted that modalities other than echocardiography are starting to play a much larger role in the treatment of these patients.

SCAI ICE position statement

SCAI highlights the benefits of ICE-guided structural heart interventions

ICE is gaining momentum as a helpful imaging option during structural heart interventions, according to a new SCAI position statement. TEE and TTE remain incredibly important, but there are times when ICE can provide the guidance necessary.

The co-chairs of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) 2025 meeting explain highlights from the in-person sonographer training sessions and focused sessions on difficult episodes of care.

ASE 2025 delivered a fully immersive experience for cardiovascular ultrasound professionals

The co-chairs of the American Society of Echocardiography's 2025 meeting wanted to "highlight the unique value of being in person." They looked back at the three-day event with Cardiovascular Business.