摘要

Competent invasive therapeutic methods have been introduced into clinical cardiology in recent years [1], and new imaging procedures have been developed for on-line evaluation of the results of these interventions. These include intravascular ultrasound and Doppler, transesophageal echocardiography and new methods for evaluating myocardial viability and perfusion.
DeMaria [2] noticed, in 1980, myocardial contrast after the injection of microbubbles into a coronary artery in an animal model. Meltzer [3] explained the mechanism of the contrast effect; microbubbles of air inhibit some acoustic properties, compared to the surrounding tissue, and cause a scatter of ultrasound waves resulting in an increased contrast effect. In view of the simplicity of contrast injection, the excellent resolution, and the wide availability of ultrasound machines, the advantage of Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography (MCE) over other potential methods for myocardial perfusion imaging is quite apparent.