Clinical echocardiography in acquired heart disease.

Echocardiography directly reflects cardiac anatomy and pathology. A normal two-dimensional and M-mode study rules out a multitude of cardiac pathologies. Echocardiography serves the clinician well in differentiating cardiac from noncardiac symptoms and in providing bedside quantitative assessment of regional and global left ventricular function. It is also invaluable in evaluating valvular disease, pericardial effusion, and intracardiac masses.