Myocardial perfusion and contrast echocardiography: review and new perspectives

Myocardial perfusion can be assessed qualitatively and quantitatively with new ultrasound contrast techniques. This article reviews progress and problems in this area, discussing intracoronary and aortic root injections in animals and humans. The technique has great potential clinical application for the identification of coronary flow reserve, and the assessment of the need for and outcome of coronary revascularization procedures. It may allow direct measurements of regional myocardial perfusion.