Quantitative assessment of myocardial tissue velocities in normal children with Doppler tissue imaging

Assessment of myocardial tissue velocities in children is feasible with DTI. We have described normal velocity values for left ventricular motion in children during systole and diastole, at the mitral annulus, and at the posterior wall. The pattern of mitral annular motion in diastole mimics that of mitral blood inflow, whereas the pattern of posterior wall motion differs and may provide for a new form of assessment of diastolic function. Further investigation of myocardial velocities in states of volume and pressure overload, as seen in various forms of congenital heart disease, is warranted.