Table of Contents
What do the colors mean on a echocardiogram?
Traditionally, flow towards the transducer is red, flow away from the transducer is blue, and higher velocities are shown in lighter shades. To aid observation of turbulent flow there is a threshold velocity, above which the color changes (in some systems to green).
What do my echocardiogram results mean?
The resulting image of an echocardiogram can show a big picture image of heart health, function, and strength. For example, the test can show if the heart is enlarged or has thickened walls. Walls thicker than 1.5cm are considered abnormal. They may indicate high blood pressure and weak or damaged valves.
What are normal echocardiogram test results?
A normal ejection fraction is between 50% and 70%, which means the left ventricle pumps out between 50% and 70% of its total volume. An ejection fraction between 40% and 49% is considered “borderline.”
What does yellow mean on an ultrasound?
A third color, usually green or yellow, is often used to denote areas of high flow turbulence. These colors are user-definable and may be reversed, however this is generally inadvisable as it may confuse later readers of the images.
Can echo detect heart blockage?
Your doctor might recommend a stress echocardiogram to check for coronary artery problems. However, an echocardiogram can’t provide information about any blockages in the heart’s arteries.
What happens if you have an abnormal echocardiogram?
Symptoms include bulging neck veins, swelling in the arms, nausea, and fainting. Abnormal echocardiogram results help doctors determine if further testing is necessary or if you need to be placed on a treatment plan. When it comes to your heart, there is no room for taking risks.
How long does it take to get the results of an echocardiogram?
The results of your echo will be prepared in a report in which your doctor will describe the heart anatomy, heart movements, and any defects observed during the test. It may take several days to several weeks for you to receive the report.
What do different colors on ultrasound mean?
The colors represent the speed and direction of blood flow within a certain area of the image (color box). The mean velocity is then converted into a specific color. By definition, flow towards the transducer is depicted in red while flow away from the transducer is shown in blue.
What color are tumors on ultrasound?
For example, most of the sound waves pass right through a fluid-filled cyst and send back very few or faint echoes, which makes them look black on the display screen. But the waves will bounce off a solid tumor, creating a pattern of echoes that the computer will show as a lighter-colored image.