Cardiac Imaging

While cardiac ultrasound is the widely used imaging modality for heart assessments, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear imaging are also used and are often complimentary, each offering specific details about the heart other modalities cannot. For this reason the clinical question being asked often determines the imaging test that will be used.

Standard transthoracic imaging planes for comprehensive right heart assessment. Several key views should be included in the standard echocardiographic assessment of the right heart. Image and caption courtesy of the American Society of Echocardiography.

ASE updates recommendations for assessing right heart function in patients with pulmonary hypertension

The new guidelines were designed to ensure sonographers and other members of the heart team have the information they need to screen patients when appropriate and identify early warnings signs of PH. 

SCAI President James Hermiller, MD, discusses the need for more better radiation protection in the cath lab#SCAI #CathLab, #RadiationExposure #cardiology

SCAI leaders 'on a mission' to improve cath lab protection from radiation, orthopedic injury

SCAI President James Hermiller, Jr., MD, explains the need for more innovative radiation protection systems in the cath lab.

Building a successful CCTA program: Physicians and healthcare executives to share advice

CCTA continues to grow more and more important in the day-to-day treatment of heart patients. Hospitals and health systems that fail to embrace the modality risk falling behind.

Evan Scott Shlofmitz, DO, Director of Intravascular Imaging, St. Francis Hospital, in Roslyn, New York, explains how he uses Heartflow's artificial intelligence technology to assess a patient's coronary artery disease from noninvasive CT scans to preplan PCI procedures.

How AI and CCTA help heart teams plan ahead before PCI

Evan Shlofmitz, DO, director of intravascular imaging at St. Francis Hospital, explains how advanced artificial intelligence technology is used to assess a patient's CT scan before they undergo PCI.

Cardiologists recommend complete revascularization, intravascular imaging in new ACS guidelines

The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association published the new guidelines with assistance from other leading U.S. medical societies. 

Why cardiac CT adoption remains low among primary care providers

The rapid rise of CCTA represents one of cardiology’s biggest ongoing trends, but most primary care providers are still not embracing a CT-first strategy.

Charalambos Antoniades, MD, the British Heart Foundation Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Oxford, is a co-founder of the company Caristo, which has developed technology to image coronary inflammation on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) scans to visualize a key factor of residual cardiovascular risk.

Detecting coronary inflammation on CT imaging could reshape preventive cardiology

New technology now being considered by the FDA for approval can capture coronary inflammation on CCTA images and provide risk assessments. What could this mean for the future of cardiac care? We spoke to one researcher to learn more.

The new cardiac PET radiotracer flurpiridaz F-18 is posed to be a major game changer and will likely lead to increased adoption of cardiac PET.

‘A significant milestone’: First US patients receive doses of new PET radiotracer for CAD

Back in September, the FDA approved GE HealthCare’s new PET radiotracer, flurpiridaz F-18, for patients with known or suspected CAD. It is seen by many in the industry as a major step forward in patient care. 

Around the web

These findings present additional evidence that invasive imaging tests are not necessarily more effective when it comes to evaluating patients for chest pain.

Unlike other UEA options, GE HealthCare's Optison does not contain polyethylene glycol. The FDA approved its use for adult patients back in 1997.

The new 1.5T MRI scanner includes a wide bore and key AI features designed to boost the patient experience.