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.

Luc Mertens, MD, section head of echocardiography at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, explains application of ultrafast ultrasound and blood speckle imaging in echocardiography

Vector flow and blood speckle echocardiography imaging may unveil new clinical insights

Luc Mertens, MD, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, explains research and potential uses for ultrafast echo imaging.

February 20, 2024
With advances and increased experience in the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), same-day discharge (SDD) has become increasingly commonplace, but patient selection is key. Antithrombotic therapy may not be necessary for certain transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patients, according to a new analysis published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Implementing a same-day PCI discharge pathway boils down to correct patient selection

Safety is key to which individuals are selected for SDD, and there can be benefits to both patients and health systems as this becomes the predominant model of care in elective PCI.

February 20, 2024
Staff at the new Fetal Cardiac Clinic at the Heart Institute at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. From left, Director of the Heart Institute David Romberger, RN, MSN, CCRN; attending physician Shuo Wang, MD; Executive Director of the Heart Institute Jennifer Klunder, MHA; Director of the Fetal Cardiac Clinic Jodie Votava-Smith, MD; Chief of the Division of Cardiology and Co-director of the Heart Institute Paul F. Kantor, MBBCh, MSc, FRCPC; and congenital cardiac surgeon Luke Wiggins, MD.

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles unveils new fetal cardiac clinic

Clinic for expectant mothers designed to better diagnose and treat congenital heart defects and heart diseases before birth. 

February 20, 2024
An example of cardiac MRI myocardial blood flow reserve (MBFR) imaging. Image courtesy of https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10090679

Imaging group thrilled with new CPT codes for MBFR measurements

The Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance applauded two new CPT Category III codes for myocardial blood flow reserve (MBFR) assessments.

February 16, 2024
Michael Garshick, MD, director of the cardio-rheumatology program, cardiologist and assistant professor, Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, explains the role of inflammation in coronary disease development and how this risk factor can be detected and treated.

Targeting coronary inflammation helps cardiologists provide better care

Michael Garshick, MD, examines the role of inflammation in coronary disease development, detailing how this risk factor can be detected and treated.

February 15, 2024
Video of Mahadevappa Mahesh, PhD, incoming-AAPM president, professor of radiology and a medical physicist, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, explains key trends in imaging physics presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2023 meeting.

6 key trends in medical imaging physics

Mahadevappa Mahesh, PhD, incoming American Association of Physicists in Medicine president, discusses key developments in the specialty. 

February 14, 2024
doctor looking at CLTI patient's leg

FDA grants bioresorbable scaffold system its breakthrough device designation to treat infrapopliteal lesions

The new drug-eluting device was designed to provide both stability and flexibility to patients presenting with below-the-knee lesions.  

February 14, 2024
An FDA panel will discuss its recommendations related to Abbott's TriClip G4 transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) system for tricuspid regurgitation.

FDA advisory panel votes in favor of Abbott’s TriClip device for tricuspid regurgitation

After hours of discussion, the panel determined that the benefits of using the TriClip G4 TEER system to treat TR outweigh any potential risks. 

February 14, 2024

Around the web

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

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