Feasibility of ultrasonic tissue characterization during dipyridamole test

Ultrasonic tissue characterization has been employed to assess ischemia induced tissue modifications providing useful information about myocardial contraction. This procedure can detect transient ischemia in man and can be effectively utilized in conjunction with a supine stress test. The feasibility of this technique is demonstrated in the setting of a commonly used provocative test such as dipyridamole infusion. The authors investigate modifications of backscatter indices induced by dipyridamole infusion. They compare the behavior of backscatter parameters during dipyridamole infusion of the region supplied by a stenosed artery with that of the region supplied by a normal vessel. It is concluded that ultrasonic tissue characterization can detect myocardial ischemic changes induced by dipyridamole infusion