Thoracic Interventions
▪ Introduction Thoracic interventions are performed for the diagnosis and treatment of focal lesions in the thorax. Image-guided percutaneous biopsy is used to obtain tissue for the diagnosis of benign…
Cardiac CT for the Evaluation of Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Emergency Department
■ Introduction More than 8 million Americans each year present to the emergency department (ED) with acute chest pain. This poses a diagnostic challenge to physicians, who must distinguish patients…
Cardiac Valves
■ Introduction Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality used in the evaluation of cardiac valve morphology, function, and disease. This modality is broadly available and portable, and there is widespread…
Congenital Heart and Vascular Disease
▪ Introduction Congenital heart and vascular diseases are relatively uncommon malformations of the heart or great vessels that occur during embryologic development. With advances in medical and surgical treatments, most…
Ischemic Cardiac Disease
■ Introduction: Using Cardiovascular Imaging Cardiovascular diseases remain one of the most common causes of death in industrialized nations. Over the last decade, substantial technical advances in cardiovascular imaging have…
Cystic Lung Disease
Introduction Cystic lung diseases present a considerable diagnostic challenge mainly because CT findings can be similar in many of these diseases. In addition, a number of pulmonary abnormalities can result…
The Pleura
▪ Pleural Anatomy The pleura is a stroma supported by the mesothelial lining of the thoracic cavity. It is composed of two layers: an inner visceral pleura and an outer…
Congenital and Developmental Diseases of the Lungs and Airways
▪ Introduction Congenital lung disease in the adult patient is rare. However, some congenital lung diseases can cause clinical symptoms for which patients undergo imaging, or these diseases may be…
Interstitial Lung Disease
Introduction Interstitial lung disease (ILD) refers to a broad category of diffuse parenchymal lung diseases characterized by inflammation and/or fibrosis of the lungs. Patients invariably present with dyspnea of varying…
Pulmonary Vascular Diseases
▪ Introduction CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) to assess for pulmonary embolism (PE) makes up the lion’s share of most radiologists’ exposure to the pulmonary vascular system and is the focus…
