What is the value of echocardiography in recognizing pulmonary hypertension?

Prof. Binder and Prof. Lang discuss the diagnostic role of echocardiography in pulmonary hypertension (PH). Transthoracic echocardiography is the initial modality for suspected PH. However, it may not differentiate post- and pre-capillary PH. Ventilation-perfusion scans or CT imaging provides better grounds for a definitive diagnosis. A V/Q scan allows for distinguishing between the types of PH and identifying chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).