A multiparametric approach to 2-D echo based tissue characterization for the assessment of elusive myocardial abnormalities

Ultrasonic tissue characterization aims to assess structural abnormalities by analyzing the radio-frequency as well as the videodensitometric properties of conventional 2-D echograms. Studies performed with conventional echocardiography and based on echo-intensity analysis, have been unable to detect myocardial structure abnormalities, when overall distortion rather than accumulation of substances is involved. This study, performed on patients with moderate pressure overload left ventricular hypertrophy compared to normal subjects, shows that the quantitative myocardial characterization from conventional 2-D echocardiography should take into account also parameters related to overall distortion, and do not rely on mean echo intensity alone.