Critical appraisal of transesophageal echocardiography - Limitations and pitfalls

Although the images obtained by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) are consistently of superior quality, there are some limitations to the technology. Pitfalls, such as misdiagnoses, are possible because of the new tomographic presentation and the inability to use transducers that are optimized for all diagnostic situations. This article critically reviews the current practice of TEE with particular emphasis on its limitations.