[Transesophageal echocardiography in atherosclerosis]

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Diagnostic Cardiology
• Medical Ultrasound

Background:

• Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used to assess atherosclerotic lesion extent.
• These imaging modalities have limitations in characterizing aortic wall properties and hemodynamics around lesions.
• Evaluating thoracic aortic and coronary artery atherosclerosis severity has been challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diagnostic capabilities of transesophageal echocardiography for aortic atherosclerosis.
• To highlight the advantages of transesophageal echocardiography over conventional methods for specific assessments.
• To discuss the application of transesophageal echocardiography in diagnosing coronary atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

• Review of diagnostic imaging techniques for atherosclerosis.
• Focus on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for evaluating the aorta and coronary arteries.
• Comparison of TEE with CT scan and MRI for atherosclerotic lesion assessment.

Main Results:

• Transesophageal echocardiography enables detailed evaluation of aortic atherosclerosis severity, particularly in the thoracic aorta.
• TEE provides insights into aortic wall characteristics and hemodynamics not offered by CT or MRI.
• The technique is effective for assessing the proximal portion of the coronary artery.

Conclusions:

• Transesophageal echocardiography is a valuable tool for diagnosing aortic and coronary atherosclerosis.
• TEE offers superior characterization of atherosclerotic lesions and associated hemodynamic factors.
• This modality enhances the assessment of cardiovascular disease risk.