Echocardiography

Cardiac ultrasound uses reflected sound waves (echos) to create images of anatomy inside the body. Echocardiograms are the primary cardiac imaging modality used to assess the heart and diagnose or track cardiac issues. Echo is the gold standard imaging modality to assess the heart, particularly with calculating left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), which is a measure of cardiac output. In addition to noninvasive standard transthoracic echo (TTE), invasive transesophgeal echo (TEE) is also used when clearer, more detailed imaging of the heart is needed. Both 3D and 4D echo echo systems are rapidly gaining wider adoption and enable new types of assessments, especially in the structural heart space and in transcatheter procedural guidance. Find news on general ultrasound imaging.

New AI program delivers rapid, accurate echo video assessments
The new technology shows early potential to make a significant impact on imaging workflows and patient care.
FDA clears AI screening tool for cardiac amyloidosis
Ultromics designed EchoGo Amyloidosis to evaluate routine echocardiogram results for signs of cardiac amyloidosis. It received the FDA's breakthrough device designation back in 2023.
FDA approves AI startup’s new software for echo assessments
iCardio.ai, co-founded by a cardiologist, is part of the Cedars-Sinai Accelerator program. The startup has already announced new partnerships with Viz.ai, Abbott and others in the cardiac health space.
Ultrafast myocardial contrast echocardiography shows early potential to evaluate CAD
Ultrafast MCE could go on to become a go-to treatment option for obstructive coronary artery disease, according to the authors of a new first-in-human clinical study.
ASE establishes vocabulary for cardiac POCUS to promote consistency
As cardiac point-of-care ultrasound use continues to grow outside of traditional echo labs, the American Society of Echocardiography is working to ensure everyone is on the same page.

CV programs struggling to keep up with growing demand for cardio-oncologists

Cardio-oncology has emerged as an area of rapid growth in the medical community in recent years, owing in large part to an increasing population of cancer survivors.

April 30, 2019

Genetic variant linked to chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy

The same genetic variants that have been uncovered in patients with two other types of cardiomyopathy are also present in an uncommonly high proportion of people with cancer therapy-induced cardiomyopathy (CCM), researchers reported in Circulation.

April 17, 2019

Ultrasound societies want the FDA to remove contrast label warning

The International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS) is again urging the FDA to remove the “black box” warning from ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) labels, following its filing of a September 2018 citizen petition with the federal agency.

March 6, 2019

American Society of Echocardiography unveils new guidelines for comprehensive TTE

The American Society of Echocardiography has released new guidelines for performing a comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) examination. The recommendations, which were endorsed by 22 other cardiology/echocardiography societies from around the world, were published in the January edition of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography.

January 22, 2019

Can cardiac MRI replace echocardiography for diagnosing pulmonary hypertension?

Cardiac MRI can accurately diagnose patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), according to an Oct. 23 study published in Radiology. Results may help improve PH detection rates and enhance care for patients with severe cases.

October 24, 2018

Prior cardiotoxicity linked to 30% increased risk of CHF during pregnancy

Women with a history of cardiotoxicity from previous cancer treatments are around 30 percent more likely to experience clinical congestive heart failure (CHF) before, during or after pregnancy, according to research published ahead of print in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

October 15, 2018

Elastography, echogenicity discriminate plaques in symptomatic stenosis patients

Combining ultrasound elastography and echogenicity analysis may better distinguish between plaques in patients with symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis than in those without symptoms, according to an Aug. 30 study in the American Journal of Roentgenology.

September 4, 2018

Left ventricle-only echocardiography saves time, resources

A group of researchers from a Veterans Affairs health system in California shared their experience with limited left ventricular echocardiography, something they believe could reduce the cost and time required for testing in select patients.

August 3, 2018

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

New AI program delivers rapid, accurate echo video assessments

The new technology shows early potential to make a significant impact on imaging workflows and patient care.

Radiology Business

Key Medicare reimbursement and No Surprises Act updates from RSNA 2024

Richard Heller III, MD, RSNA board member and senior VP of policy at Radiology Partners, offers an overview of policies in Congress that are directly impacting imaging.

Cardiovascular Business

Philips, Mayo Clinic using AI to improve cardiac MRI technology

The two companies aim to improve patient access to high-quality MRI scans by combining their artificial intelligence capabilities.