Echocardiography has become the primary imaging tool in the diagnosis and assessment of congenital and acquired heart disease in infants, children, and adolescents. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is an ideal tool for cardiac assessment, as it is noninvasive, portable, and efficacious in providing detailed anatomic, hemodynamic, and physiologic information about the pediatric heart. (12/2006)
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Fetal echocardiography is the ultrasonic evaluation of the human fetal cardiovascular system. General antepartum obstetrical ultrasound has become a standard part of gestational care and is commonly used for the determination of fetal age, size, gender, or well-being and for the detection of congenital anomalies. A variety of maternal or fetal disorders may result in abnormality of the fetal cardiovascular system to a degree which demands evaluation at a level above and beyond that attainable with standard antepartum obstetrical ultrasound. In these circumstances, a fetal echocardiogram should be performed. (7/2004)  read more ...

The American Society of Echocardiography has published guidelines relating to standards for training (and certification); performance; nomenclature and measurement; and quality improvement related to echocardiography. However, the society has not previously made recommendations about what constitutes the core variables – i.e., measurements and other elements – to be included in a transthoracic echocardiographic report. (9/01) read more ...