Abstract: Microparticles which are less than 12 .mu.m in size and are formed of or comprise a solid lipophilic group-containing compound having an HLB value less than about 20 produce a long lived ultrasonically echogenic entity in aqueous liquid and are useful as left heart ultrasonic contrast image enhancing agents. Contrast media for ultrasonic diagnostics comprising a liquid vehicle containing (a) suspended therein microparticles of a mixture of at least one (C.sub.8 -C.sub.20)-fatty acid and at least one solid that is not a surfactant and (b) microbubbles, are especially effective upon ultrasonic imaging after intravenous administration, for the contrasting of both the right heart and left heart, of the myocardium, as well as other organs, such as liver, spleen, and kidneys.