Cardiovascular Diagnostic Tests

Question 1

What does chest x ray reveal

Answer 1

abnormalities of lung fluids, overall cardiac shape and size, aneurysm

Question 2

What is myocardial perfusion imaging used for

Answer 2

• to diagnose and evaluate ischemic heart disease and MI
• Identify myocardial flood flow, areas of stress-induced ischemia, old infarcts

Question 3

Thallium-201 Scan

Answer 3

Tallium (or other radioisotope) is injected into blood via IV; radioisotopes concentrate in normal tissue but not in ischemic or infarcted tissues

Question 4

Thallium stress test:

Answer 4

used with exercise test; injected at peak exercise

Question 5

PET scan

Answer 5

uses radioactive marker 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)

Question 6

Echocardiogram

Answer 6

non invaseve test that uses US to assess internal structures: size of chambers, wall thickness, ejection fraction, movement of valves, septum, abnormal wall movement

Question 7

Cardiac Catheterization

Answer 7

• Passage of tiny tube from brachial or femoral artery through aorta into blood vessels with introduction of contrast medium into coronary arteries and subsequent x ray

Question 8

What does Cardiac Catheterization provide information about

Answer 8

anatomy of heart and great vessels, ventricular and valve function, abnormal wall movements
- allows determination of EF

Question 9

central line (Swan-Ganz catheter)

Answer 9

• catheter inserted through vessels into right side of heart
• measures central venous pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressuresC

Question 10

Cardiac MRI

Answer 10

• creates 3D images of the heart to investigate coronary arteries, aorta, pericardium, and myocardium