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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. This commonly used test allows your doctor to see how your heart is beating and pumping blood. Your doctor can use the images from an echocardiogram to identify various abnormalities in the heart muscle and valves.
Depending on what information your doctor needs, you may have one of several types of echocardiograms. Each type of echocardiogram has few risks involved.
References
- Echocardiography. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/echo/. Accessed Aug. 20, 2012.
- Douglas PS, et al. ACCF/ASE/ACEP/ASNC/SCAI/SCCT/SCMR 2011 appropriateness use criteria for echocardiography. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. 2011;24:229.
- Pellikka PA, et al. American Society of Echocardiography recommendations for performance, interpretation, and application of stress echocardiography. Journal of American Society of Echocardiography. 2007;20:1021.
- Manning WJ. Principles of Doppler echocardiography. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Aug. 20, 2012.
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