[Transesophageal echocardiography in atherosclerosis].
CT scan and MRI were used for evaluating the degree or extent of atherosclerotic lesion. However, these methods do not show characteristics of the aortic wall and the hemodynamics surrounding atherosclerotic lesion. Recently, evaluation of the severity of aortic atherosclerosis, especially the thoracic aorta, and the proximal portion of the coronary artery, became possible by transesophageal echocardiography. This article reviews the diagnosis of aortic atherosclerosis and coronary atherosclerosis, using transesophageal echocardiography.
Inoue
T
T
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University.
Kimoto
K
K
Sasaki
J
J
D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans