Which type of echocardiography involves the use of an ultrasound probe placed down the esophagus?

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) involves positioning an ultrasound probe in the esophagus to obtain detailed images of the heart and surrounding structures. This technique is particularly useful for visualizing parts of the heart that might be obscured during transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), which uses an external probe on the chest.

The closer proximity of the esophagus to the heart allows for higher-resolution images, making TEE advantageous in examining heart valves, detecting blood clots, and diagnosing conditions such as atrial septal defects. It is often performed when transthoracic images are inadequate or when more precise assessment is necessary.

In contrast, transthoracic echocardiography is a non-invasive test using an external probe, stress echocardiography evaluates cardiac function under physical stress, and color Doppler echocardiography provides information on blood flow direction and velocity using Doppler imaging techniques. Each of these methods has distinct applications and cannot replicate the advantages provided by transesophageal echocardiography in specific diagnostic scenarios.