Coherence is the degree of phase agreement among waves. A coherent sound wave is one in which all of the signals are in phase.

(CCI) A major limitation of the use of ultrasound contrast agents is the problem that signals from the microbubbles are mixed with those from tissue, so that the distribution of the microbubbles is not optimally displayed either in Doppler or gray scale.
Coherent contrast imaging is a high frame rate implementation of inverting the phase of alternate sound pulses and summing the resulting echoes. The symmetrical signals from linear reflectors are cancelled leaving those from non-linear scatterers, with the advantage that the cancellation is performed without the need to transmit two pulses per image line so that bubble destruction is minimized. Coherent contrast imaging yields best results in the vascular phase of phospholipid microbubbles (such as Definity and SonoVue).

See also Coherence.

(CAI) Color amplitude imaging shows the amplitude of the Doppler signal from moving blood flow. CAI is an ultrasound technique with increased dynamic range and flow sensitivity. The sensitivity of Doppler ultrasound increases markedly in conjunction with the use of vascular contrast agents.

See also Amplitude Map, Amplitude Indicator.

(CD) Color Doppler is an ultrasound imaging mode, which visualizes the presence, direction and velocity of flowing blood in a wide range of flow conditions. It provides an estimate of the mean velocity of flow within a vessel by color coding the flow and displaying it superimposed on the 2D gray scale image. The flow direction is arbitrarily assigned the color red or blue, indicating flow toward or away from the transducer.
Color (colour, Brit.) Doppler ultrasound is capable of evaluating a wider area than other Doppler modes than for example Duplex or power Doppler, and therefore makes it less likely to miss flow abnormalities. It is also easier to interpret. Color flow is not as precise as conventional Doppler and is best used to scan a larger area and then use conventional Doppler for detailed analysis at a site of potential flow abnormality.

Adjustments for color Doppler in case of too much color:
Adjustments for color Doppler in case of not enough color:
See also Color Power Doppler, Autocorrelation, Color Priority, Triplex Exam and Color Saturation.

(CDFI) Color [colour, Brit.] Doppler flow imaging is a method based on pulsed ultrasound Doppler technology for visualizing direction and velocity of blood flow within the cardiac chambers or blood vessels.

See also Autocorrelation.