Doppler myocardial imaging

Imaging of the myocardium using Doppler techniques, based on either spectral or colour principles has been available for use in clinical cardiology for some six years. Despite early enthusiasm and some preliminary studies which indicated potential clinical applications for the technique, it has remained somewhat of a Cinderella among cardiac ultrasound techniques. It is, therefore, appropriate to review the reasons why there remains a clinical need for such a technique (given the profusion of competing new ultrasound modalities), how the technique has developed since its introduction and why there has not been greater interest in the technique leading to its widespread introduction into clinical practice, despite its many theoretical advantages over grey-scale imaging in a number of clinical situations.