Echo Modalities and their Main Uses

Echocardiography provides both anatomical and haemodynamic information:

Echocardiography includes both imaging (2-D and M-mode) and Doppler modalities (continuous wave, pulsed wave and colour flow mapping).

Modality	Principal uses
2-D echo	Anatomy Ventricular and valve motion
M-mode echo	Measurement of dimensions Timing of cardiac events
Colour flow mapping	Assessment of regurgitation and shunts
Continuous wave Doppler	Severity of valve stenosis Severity of valve regurgitation
Pulsed wave Doppler	Calculation of stroke volume LV diastolic function Effective orifice area in aortic stenosis
TDI - Tissue Doppler Imaging	Assessment of ventricular systolic and diastolic function