The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in cardiac diseases has been advancing rapidly, and this technique has become the gold standard for diagnosing many of the pathologic conditions encountered…
Echocardiography uses high-frequency sound waves to generate images of cardiac structures and to provide information regarding blood flow and valvular function. The introduction of two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography into routine clinical…
Tremendous advances in understanding of the circulatory system stemmed from the groundbreaking work of Claude Bernard, a French physiologist who performed cardiac catheterization of an equine heart in 1844. However,…
Evaluation of cardiac computed tomography (CT) images requires a thorough understanding of normal cardiac anatomy and common anatomic variants. Technologic advances, including electrocardiographically gated multidetector CT scanners, submillimeter collimation, and…
Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging allows high-contrast, spatial, and temporal resolution imaging of the heart and related structures. The absence of ionizing radiation and the greater contrast and temporal resolution…
Today, imagers are presented with more options than ever before for imaging vascular structures throughout the body. This is in part due to the evolution of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA),…
Catheter angiography refers to x-ray imaging of the blood vessels while contrast material is injected through an introducer (needle, catheter, or sheath) positioned within the vessel of interest. First developed…
Many symptoms and signs encountered in the course of clinical care may raise concern for cardiac dysfunction. These manifestations may include chest pain or discomfort, dyspnea, exercise intolerance, edema, syncope,…
Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is an exciting technology that allows noninvasive assessment of the vasculature. Over the past few decades, the use of CTA has grown tremendously due to the…
Ultrasound is the most popular noninvasive imaging technique for evaluation of the vascular system. Vascular ultrasound has significant advantages. It provides comprehensive anatomic and flow details of the vascular system,…
