An echocardiogram, cardiac echo or simply an echo, is an ultrasound of the heart. It is a type of medical imaging of the heart, using standard ultrasound or Doppler ultrasound.

A carotid artery Doppler ultrasound is a diagnostic test used to check the circulation in the large arteries in the neck. This exam shows any blockage in the vessels by calcification, blood clot or “thrombus” formation.

An Arterial Doppler test checks the circulation in either your arms or legs. This test relies on the use of blood pressure cuffs (similar to the one used to take your arm blood pressure) in conjunction with ultrasound. It measures and records blood flow patterns and pressures to either the upper or lower extremities.

The ankle brachial index, or ABI, is a simple test that compares the blood pressure in the upper and lower limbs. Health care providers calculate ABI by dividing the blood pressure in an artery of the ankle by the blood pressure in an artery of the arm. The result is the ABI.

Thyroid ultrasound is a sound wave picture of the thyroid gland taken by a hand-held instrument and translated to a 2-dimensional picture on a monitor. It is used in diagnosis of tumors, cysts or goiters of the thyroid, and is a painless, no-risk procedure.

What is a bypass graft ultrasound? An arterial bypass graft ultrasound is a non-invasive test using sound waves, gel and a small probe to produce an image of the arteries and graft in the legs and/or arms. An arterial ultrasound uses no radiation, dyes, or needles.

A stress echo is a more dynamic test that examines the heart in action.  It combines an ultrasound of the heart with a stress test. A stress test, often called a treadmill test, measures how your heart works when experiencing added workload or “stress” of exercise.

Venous Doppler is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates blood as it flows through a blood vessel, including the body's deep and superficial veins in the abdomen, arms, legs and neck.

A segmental pressure test involves placing a series of blood pressure cuffs on the legs (high thigh, low thigh, high calf, and ankle) to help determine where in the leg the artery disease might be.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening is a way of checking if there's a bulge or swelling in the aorta, the main blood vessel that runs from your heart down through your tummy. This bulge or swelling is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA.

An electrocardiogram records the electrical signals in the heart. It's a common and painless test used to quickly detect heart problems and monitor the heart's health. An electrocardiogram — also called ECG or EKG — is often done in a health care provider's office, a clinic or a hospital room.