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.

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Chicago’s Rush University to build $473M imaging, cancer, neurological outpatient facility

Rush University Medical Center in Chicago plans to build a new $473 million, 530,000-square-foot outpatient care center specializing in cancer treatment, neurological care, imaging and radiation and infusion therapy, according to an article published Aug. 9 by the Chicago Tribune. 

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Chinese construction worker survives after impaled by 10-foot metal rod

A construction worker in China beat the odds—surviving after a 10-foot metal rod impaled his skull and brain, according to a report by the Daily Mail.  

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FDA stops Florida radiology facility from performing mammograms

The FDA has ordered a radiology center in a Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, suburb to stop performing low-quality mammograms not meeting FDA standards, according to a report published Aug. 7 by NBC 6 in Miramar.

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Cardiac imaging delivers mixed results in preventing heart-related deaths in young athletes

A 20-year study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Aug. 9 compiled cardiovascular screening exams from more than 11,000 adolescent soccer players in the U.K. It found that routine cardiac imaging tests prevented an insufficient amount of heart-related deaths from physical activity.

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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.

Left ventricle-focused echocardiography quick, cost-effective

A group of California researchers believes a limited transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) that solely evaluates the left ventricle could be more efficient and cost-effective in certain patients compared to whole echocardiography.

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Non-invasive MRI technique could ID those likely to suffer heart attack

A team of international scientists developed a new non-invasive MRI-based early warning system that may alert physicians about approaching heart attacks in patients and identify those at high risk.

OCT tops angiography for spotting vascular changes in heart transplant patients

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers superior detection of coronary vascular changes compared to angiography in pediatric heart transplant recipients. The technique can be used to improve the medical management in this population.

Around the web

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.