Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures

Question 1

Angiography

Answer 1

Recording (via x-ray images) blood vessels after the injection of contrast into the bloodstream.

Question 2

Cardiac Catherization

Answer 2

Introducing a catheter into coronary blood vessels to measure pressure and flow patterns of blood.

Question 3

Cardiac Enzyme Tests

Answer 3

Measurements of enzymes released into the bloodstream after a heart attack (myocardial infarction).

Question 4

Doppler Ultrasound

Answer 4

Measuring blood flow in vessels via sound waves.

Question 5

Echocardiography

Answer 5

Images of the heart are produced using sound waves.

Question 6

Electrocardiography

Answer 6

Recording electricity flowing through the heart.

Question 7

Holter Machine

Answer 7

Detection of abnormal heart rhythms that involves having a patient wear a compact version of an electrocardiograph for 24 hours.

Question 8

Lipid Tests

Answer 8

Measurements of cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.

Question 9

Lipoprotein Tests

Answer 9

Measurements of high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the blood.

Question 10

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Answer 10

Producing an image, by beaming magnetic waves at the heart, that gives detailed information about congenital heart disease, cardiac masses, and disease within large blood vessels.

Question 11

MUGA Scan

Answer 11

Imaging the motion of heart wall muscles and assessing the function of the heart via a multiple-gated acquisition scan, which uses radioactive chemicals.

Question 12

Stress Test

Answer 12

An electrocardiogram plus blood pressure and heart rate measurements shows the heart’s response to physical exertion (treadmill test).

Question 13

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan

Answer 13

Radioactive chemicals which release radioactive particles, are injected into the bloodstream and travel to the heart. Cross-sectional images show the flow of blood and the functional activity of the heart muscle.