The Early Days of Two-Dimensional Echocardiography in Korea (1977-1981)

Today, echocardiography is an essential non-invasive diagnostic imaging tool used in clinics worldwide. However, the application of ultrasound to heart began only about 70 years ago. In early 1950s, Hertz and Edler described use for myocardial walls mitral valve diseases. Feigenbaum (1960s) expanded clinical M-mode echocardiography. The advent two-dimensional (2D) (1970s), spectral Doppler color (1980s) established them routine assessment cardiac anatomy hemodynamics. Korea, history 2D spans 46 years, within living memory, some contributions are often overlooked. initial using mechanical sector scanning was very different from current electronic phased-array scanners. This review explores historical status actual images Korea 1977-1981.