Ultrasound

Ultrasound, also referred to as sonography or diagnostic ultrasound, uses high-frequency sound waves to visualize soft tissue. Ultrasounds are frequently ordered to measure fetal anatomy during pregnancy, check for blood clots and to guide needle biopsy procedures of the breast, abdomen and pelvis. The imaging modality does not use any radiation to create images. Find news specific to cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography).

To prevent the risk of patients developing heart failure from chemotherapy agents in cancer care, patients are typically have their left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) or myocardial strain monitored using either echocardiography or equilibrium radionuclide angiography/multigated acquisition (ERNA/MUGA). If cardiac damager occurs, the treatment is discontinue or pause treatment. Cardiac imaging to assess chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity using strain echo.

Succeeding with Cancer: Using Imaging to Avoid Treatment-induced Heart Failure

Treating today’s cancer patient no longer means simply targeting the cancer. Given the known cardiotoxicities of some established chemotherapies and the possibility that newer approaches may damage the heart, oncologists, cardiologists and imaging specialists now work together to detect and minimize the risk of treatment-induced heart failure.

March 22, 2017

Coding for Clarity: Echocardiography Gains Two New CPT Add-On Codes

The approval of two new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes acknowledges echocardiographic myocardial strain imaging and myocardial contrast perfusion echocardiography as emerging technologies, often a necessary step before a code is promoted to payable status.

January 31, 2017
Sharon L. Mulvagh, MD

Goal Reversal? Study Suggests Echocardiography Could Have an Underuse Problem

ASE says new data may be a “wake-up call” to recognize the value of echocardiography.  

May 26, 2016
heart

ASE scientific sessions to highlight point-of-care ultrasound, strain imaging and 3D echocardiography

At the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) annual scientific sessions, the use of point-of-care echocardiography is among the major topics of discussion. The conference takes place from June 12 to June 16 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.

June 11, 2015

Q&A: Contrast for Stress Echo

ASE members discuss recent changes to contrast enhanced stress echo.

April 26, 2013

ASE, GE partner in India for cardiovascular ultrasound training

The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) and GE Healthcare have teamed to provide a cardiovascular ultrasound training event for healthcare providers caring for underserved populations in rural northwest India.

December 10, 2012

ASE: Are cardiovascular sonographers at high risk of radiation exposure?

There is growing concern among cardiac sonographers about the amount of radiation exposure they experience on the job and few say their workplace has a formal policy to address radiation safety for sonographers, according to a survey conducted by the American Society of Echocardiography.

September 30, 2011

New ASE guidelines offer clarity for right ventricular assessment

The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) has published new guidelines to improve the existing norms of the right heart in the July issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. The recommended procedures will establish a more uniform method of evaluating the size and function of the right ventricle, said the society.

July 7, 2010

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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