What is Cardiovascular Imaging?

Cardiovascular imaging is a specific type of medical imaging that focuses on techniques that evaluate hearts and determine a heart condition diagnosis. Imaging allows doctors to see the heart structure, blood flow, and tissue health in one’s body to understand if there is an underlying heart condition.

Why is Cardiovascular Imaging Important?

• Doctors can understand where the problems are in the heart like blocked arteries, scar tissue, etc.

• Provides the ability to predict how likely patients are at risk of heart attacks, or other CVDs

• Opens ways for non-invasive or less invasive treatments, making surgery sometimes nonessential

Types of Cardiovascular Imaging:

1. Echocardiography (Echo):

• Uses ultrasound to develop pictures of the heart’s structures and motion

• Mostly for measuring how well the heart pumps, and checking the wall thickness, valves’ functions, and chamber size.

2. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI):

• Uses strong magnets to create high-resolution pictures of heart muscle tissue, blood flow, and scarring

• Mostly for diagnosing cardiomyopathies, myocarditis, or other heart dysfunctions

3. Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT):

• Uses X-rays to develop detailed 3D images of the heart and blood vessels

• Mostly for checking plaque or blockages in the coronary arteries, and assessing calcium in the arteries

4. Nuclear Imaging (PET):

• Uses small amounts of radioactive tracers to measure blood flow and how well the heart muscle works

• Mostly for detecting areas with poor blood supply, scarring of heart muscle, or viability of heart tissue

Risks of Cardiovascular Imaging:

• Cardiac CT scans and nuclear imaging involves the use of radiation, which could increase the risk of cancer

• MRI scans requires laying still inside a machine, which could be claustrophobia-inducing situations for some patients

• The cost of advanced technology are always expensive and not accessible to some communities as it isn’t available in all hospitals or covered fully by insurance

Cardiovascular imaging is such a powerful tool that allows doctors to detect and diagnose cardiovascular conditions and diseases early. Each imaging tool has their own strengths and will make a difference in your heart health.