Objective To quantitatively assess the left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in the elderly patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) by using Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) and to explore its clinical value. Methods A total of 20 normal controls and 22 old patients with DCM were enrolled in the study. The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left atrial diameter (LAD) and left ventricle ejection fraction(LVEF) were obtained by routine echocardiogram. And the systolic and early diastolic peak velocity (Vs and Ve) were detected by quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI) and the mean value was accounted. The systolic mitral valve displacements (MVD) in 6 sites were determined by tissue tracking technique and the mean value was calculated. Results The LVEDd and LAD were significantly higher in DCM group than in normal group [LVEDd: (67.56±10.27) mm vs. (43.36±4.20) mm; LAD: (49.91± 6.27) mm vs. (32.00+4.53) mm, t=10.229 and 10.359, both P<0.01]. And the LVEF, Vs and MVD were lower in DCM group than in normal group [LVEF: (26.50 ± 8.25)% vs. (64.00 + 4.72)%; Vs:(5.14+1.30) cm/s vs. (8.89+1.87) cm/s; MVD:4.82+1.85 vs. 10.23± 1.95, t=18.502, 7.716 and 8.143, all P< 0.01].The Vs and MVD were significantly positively correlated with LVEF (r=0.78 and 0.89, both P<0.01). Conclusions DTI can quantitatively assess global and regional left ventricular systolic and diastolic function of elderly patients with DCM, and provide the reliable information for the judgment of pathogenetic condition.