Visualization of myocardial perfusion after percutaneous myocardial septal ablation for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using superharmonic imaging

Harmonic imaging is used for detection of ultrasound contrast agents in myocardial perfusion studies. However, harmonic imaging has limitations because of the presence of tissue harmonics, which results in less specificity and sensitivity, thus, lower contrast-to-tissue ratio. We describe a clinical example using superharmonic imaging. This technique detects the third, fourth, and fifth harmonics. These harmonics are not created in tissue, resulting, hence, in a high contrast-to-tissue ratio. After myocardial alcohol ablation for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy areas of nontreated and treated, myocardium, normal and low flow could be visualized with superharmonic imaging.

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