Cardiac Imaging Flashcards
What are the cardiac imaging techniques used clinically?
Echocardiography (echo), MRI scan and coronary angiography.
What are the indications, pros and cons of echocardiogrpahy?
Indications:
- structure and functions of heart
- valve assessment
- pericardial assessment
Pros:
- cheap
- portable
- no radiation
Cons:
- user dependent
- requires good acoustic window
What are the indications, pros and cons of an MRI scan?
Indications: - assesses structure and function - perfusion stress - assesses great vessels Tissue Characterisation: - infiltrated cardiomyopathies and previous infarction.
Pros:
- Gold standard LV assessment
- reproducible
- no radiation
Cons:
- cost
- claustrophobia
- pacemakers
- Not that good for valve assessment
What are the indications, pros and cons of an invasive/ coronary angiography ?
Indications:
- Ischaemia
- primary PCI
- valve assessment
Pros:
- Gold standard for imaging coronary artery
- availability
- option for intervention during procedure
Cons:
- Radiation exposure
- Risks (stroke, heart attack, bleeding and death)
What are the indications, pros and cons of nuclear perfusion imaging?
Indications:
- assesses ischaemia
- assesses ejection fraction
Pros:
- availability
Cons:
- radiation
- no structural assessment
What are the indications, pros and cons of cardiac CT?
Indications:
- coronary artery anatomy
- great vessel anatomy
Pros:
- low risk
- good rule out for coronary artery disease
Cons:
- radiation dose
- no functional assessment of ischaemia
What is doppler echocardiography?
Procedure that uses Doppler ultrasonography to examine the heart. Allows determination of the speed and direction of blood flow by utilising the Doppler effect.
what is a colour doppler?
Colour Doppler is a technique in which coloirs superimposed on an image of a blood vessel indicate the speed and direction of blood flow in the vessel
