Quantitative assessment of myocardial tissue velocities in normal children with Doppler tissue imaging

Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) is a new ultrasound technology that enables quantitative assessment of myocardial tissue velocities.(1) By altering instrument sensitivity to detect high-intensity/low-velocity ultrasound signals, Doppler shift information may be acquired from moving tissue and converted to velocity, Although blood flow velocities through various components of the heart have been well characterized in both the normal and diseased states, tissue motion velocities have not been extensively investigated, Data on myocardial tissue velocities in normal children have not yet been established. We investigated the use of DTI in normal children and report on the range of values for myocardial tissue velocities of the left ventricle throughout the cardiac cycle.