G. Wayne Moore

Color Flow Imaging Display Modes and Data Acquisition Parameters

The recent development and refinement of color flow imaging systems has led to some confusion as to the relative merit or proper use of various display parameters available to the operator. Still in its infancy, color flow imaging represents an exciting extension of pulsedDoppler technology in the evaluation of physiological events associated with the intracardiac movement of blood. As with any new technology, the initial excitement must soon turn toward a serious evaluation of the extent to which it may be applied in assisting the physician in the proper management of his patient. In order to effectively use color flow Doppler, as either a qualitative or quantitative modality, the physician and sonographer must have a clear understanding of the instrument and the parameters of data acquisition in which the instrument will operate. While considerable experience concerning the potential clinical efficacy of color flow imaging has already been reported, few data are available from commercial manufacturers as to how their systems acquire data, how data is processed, the inherent limitations of color flow data acquisition, why one display mode seems to work better than another in certain circumstances, and the ever-looming problem of instrumentation pitfalls. This review examines how color flow data is obtained, processed, and displayed. The limitations of color flow imaging and potential pitfalls of the various displays are also addressed.