Can a color Doppler echocardiogram detect coronary heart disease?
Disease description:
My mother and I went back to our hometown to visit relatives for the New Year. We met a distant uncle who mentioned that his heart hasn't been feeling well lately. Someone recommended that he go to the hospital for an echocardiogram (cardiac ultrasound). He just wants to know whether an echocardiogram can detect coronary artery disease.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Xin
Echocardiography generally cannot directly diagnose coronary heart disease, but it can serve as an auxiliary diagnostic tool. Coronary heart disease is a condition caused by myocardial ischemia, hypoxia, or necrosis due to narrowing or occlusion of the coronary arteries. Echocardiography mainly evaluates the overall condition of the heart by observing its structure and function, such as heart size, ventricular wall motion, and cardiac valve function. Although echocardiography may detect certain abnormalities when coronary heart disease has progressed to a certain extent—for example, if cardiac contractile function is affected or ventricular aneurysms develop—these findings cannot directly confirm a diagnosis of coronary heart disease.
Diagnosis of coronary heart disease typically requires combining multiple diagnostic methods, including electrocardiogram (ECG), myocardial enzyme panel, cardiac stress testing, and coronary angiography. Among these, coronary angiography is currently the most reliable method for diagnosing coronary heart disease, as it can directly visualize narrowing or blockages in the coronary arteries. Therefore, if coronary heart disease is suspected, it is recommended to undergo a comprehensive evaluation under a physician's guidance to establish a definitive diagnosis and formulate an appropriate treatment plan.
