transthoracic echocardiography


trans·tho·rac·ic ech·o·car·di·og·ra·phy

the standard echocardiography recorded from echocardiographic "windows" on the chest wall, jugular notch, or epigastrium.

transthoracic echocardiography

Two-dimensional transthoracic color-flow Doppler echocardiography TTE Cardiology A noninvasive imaging technique used as a screening method for analyzing defects of locoregional fluid distribution or blood flow patterns–eg, pericardial effusion or aortic regurgitation; TTE is less sensitive than transesophagel color-flow Doppler echocardiography or spin-echo MRI in detecting thoracic aneurysms because of anatomic and technical drawbacks–eg, limited field of view Indications Assessment of: acute endocarditis, acute MI, aortic disease, cardiotoxic agents–adriamycin, corticosteroids, opiates, carbon monoxide, radiation, cardiomyopathy, CAD, congenital heart disease, hypertensive heart disease-left ventricular hypertrophy, intracardiac lesions–thrombi, embolism, masses–eg, myxoma, pericardial disease, post-heart transplant, prosthetic valves, valve disease, ventricular dysfunction

transthoracic echocardiography

Abbreviation: TTE
Echocardiography of the heart and great vessels by means of an ultrasonic transducer placed on the chest wall. Sound waves are transmitted to the underlying organs (e.g., the heart or aorta), and an image is constructed from those that rebound toward the transducer. See also: echocardiography