title: Echocardiography in the cardiac work-up.
abstract: Increasingly popular, echocardiography is now widely available. It poses no risk, causes no discomfort and reveals a great deal of information. Interpretation requires expertise. A simple algorithm provides decision points leading to use of this technique for diagnosis and follow-up and for avoiding overutilization. Clinical correlation and (when indicated) correlation with other cardiac tests are essential.
mesh_terms: D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans