Color Doppler flow mapping is a useful new imaging modality which provides near real-time information about the direction and character of intracardiac flows. Color Doppler is especially useful in the diagnosis and quantitation of valvular regurgitation, and in the detection of intracardiac shunts. Color Doppler is a useful adjunct to CW Doppler in the assessment of valvular stenosis, as a means of aligning the ultrasound beam parallel to the direction of the stenotic jet. Limitations of color flow imaging with regards to absolute velocity and the timing of intracardiac flows can be overcome by using pulse, CW, or color M-mode in conjunction with the two-dimensional color flow examination.