[Value of sonography in cardiologic diagnosis]

Echocardiography offers a non-invasive method ideal for the patient and the observer. It improved the diagnostic possibilities during the past few years significantly and reached highest diagnostic sensitivity in certain cardiovascular diseases. It is ideally suited for follow-up examinations and for the evaluation of medical or surgical interventions. In addition it can be helpful as screening method for invasive diagnostic procedures. Despite all advantages one has to keep in mind that it is only one single diagnostic step within the whole diagnostic framework. For the management of patients it is decisive to know the information which can be gained and to know the possibilities and limitations of the method.