Clin Lab: Cardiovascular Imaging Flashcards
Types of Imaging imaging of the heart
- CXR
- CT chest
- US
- Radionuclide imaging & Stress testing
- Coronary angiography
CXR: Heart tells use
- heart size
- Dextrocardia
- Pericardial effusions
- Pleural effusions from HF
- Pulm vascular edema from HF
- Aortic dissections/aneurysms
CT chest: Heart tells use
- pericardial effusions
- coronary artery calcifications
- aortic dissections/aneurysms
US: Heart tells use
Echo
- TTE or TEE
- Tells us of structure & mechanic (valves/EF)
Radionuclide imaging & stress testing: Heart tells use
evidence of coronary artery dz before we have to do anyting invasive
Coronary angiography: Heart tells use
can be used as therapeutic and diagnostics about things going on in the vascular of the heart
Angiography: Vascular tells use
looks at BVs
- traditional angiography
- CTA
- MRA
US: vascular tells use
External
- mostly done
Internal
- probe used into BVs
Plethysmography: vascular tells use
uses BP measurements and looks at wave forms associated to blood flow w/ different pressures
What is dextrocardia?
transposition of the heart
- may be isolated or other organs in additional
- >asymptomatic, found in some genetic syndromes
What is cardiomegaly CXR?
In PA view, the hearts max width should be < 1/2 the total thoracic cavity width.
With cardiomegaly it is larger
Describe Pericardial effusions CXR
“water bottle” sign
large if seen on CXR
b/t the fibrous sac of the heart
Describe CHF: CXR
may see:
Pleural effusions–> transudative
–> bilateral costophrenic angles
–> fissures b/t lung lobes
–> interlobular septa (Kerley B lines)
Incr vascular markings
–> diffuse incr in vascular markings
–> Cephalization of pulm vessels in upper lobes
Describe aortic dissection CXR.
- widened mediastium
- “Ca++ sign”
–> Ca++ area >1cm from outside curse of aortic knob - weakened the wall of BVs allows for leakage of blood
When do we do a CT for pleural effusion?
done if quantification of effusion needed or if Echo is inconclusive
What are calcifications associated with?
atherosclerotic plaques
Do we used contrast w/ coronary artery coalification CT?
NO
When do we order a coronary artery calcification?
asymp pts w/ intermediate 10 yr risk
What does a Coronary artery calcification tell us?
a coronary calcium score
- the amount of calcification can be quantified
prognostic for ASCVD and adverse events (MI/Stroke)
What is a normal EF?
50 - 55%
What is severely bad EF?
< 25%
