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Cardiac Imaging &
Echocardiography
Cardiac Imaging & Echocardiography
At Parto Heart & Vascular we use cutting-edge imaging technologies to pinpoint and treat your cardiovascular problem. Dr. Parto determines the most suitable diagnostic method(s) to employ based on his assessment of your overall and cardiovascular health.
Some tests that may be used are listed below.
Chest X-Ray
Chest x-rays are usually among the first procedures that are performed to diagnose heart disease or to assess the heart's response to treatment. The procedure produces images of your heart, lungs, blood vessels, airways and the bones of your chest and spine. These images are used by the doctor to examine the size and shape of your chest organs and blood vessels and may reveal the following:
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An enlarged heart or heart valve problems
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Congenital heart disease
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Blood vessel problems such as aortic aneurysm (a bulge in the aorta)
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Calcium deposits in the heart or blood vessels which could bring about a heart attack
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Fluid in or around the lungs
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Postoperative changes (if you've had surgery inside your chest, such as on your heart, lungs or esophagus)
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Placement of pacemakers, defibrillators, or other heart devices, tubes and catheters
A chest x-ray is painless, simple and usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Your body is positioned between the x-ray machine and a plate that creates pictures onto the x-ray film or produces digital recordings. Pictures are taken from both the front and side of your chest.
Computed Tomography (CT)
Computed tomography combines multiple x-ray images via a computer to produce detailed cross-sectional views/slices of the body. Cardiac CT also known as MSCT, coronary CTA or cardiac CAT scan uses advanced CT technology with or without intravenous (IV) contrast (dye) to envision the heart anatomy, coronary circulation, and great vessels. Cardiac CT is used to assess the:
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heart muscle
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sac around the heart (pericardium)
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coronary arteries
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pulmonary veins
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thoracic and abdominal aorta
There are several types of CT scans used in the diagnosis of heart disease. These include coronary CT angiography (CTA), Calcium-score screening heart scan, Total body CT scan (TBCT).
Learn more about Cardiac Computed Tomography (Multidetector CT, or MDCT) at the American Heart Association - Cardiac CT.
Services
Cardiac Imaging & Echocardiography
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Cardiac MRI is a non-invasive, non-ionizing test used for the assessment of the framework and function of the cardiovascular system. This imaging technique uses a powerful magnet (generating a strong magnetic field), radio waves and a computer to produce detailed and precise 3-D projections of the heart and its surrounding structures. MRI provides a means of exploring areas of cardiac tissue with poor blood flow (as in coronary artery disease, CAD) or areas that have been damaged (as in myocardial infarction). It is commonly used to diagnose:
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coronary heart disease
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heart failure
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congenital heart defect
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heart attack damage
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heart membrane inflammation
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heart valve defects
Learn more about MRI, how to prepare for an MRI and what happens after your MRI at the American Heart Association - MRI.
Echocardiography (Cardiac Ultrasound)
Echpcardipgraphy is a test that uses sound waves to produce images of your heart muscle and heart valves. A transducer placed close to the heart transmits high frequency sound waves (ultrasound) which bounce off the heart structures generating images and sounds that can be used by the cardiologist to assess the functioning of your heart.
This procedure is used to:
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Determine overall performance of your heart
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Detect many types of heart disease
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Evaluate the effectiveness of medical or surgical treatments
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Assess the advancement of heart disease through time
There are different types of echocardiograms:
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Transthoracic echocardiogram: This is the standard test where a hand-held transducer is placed on your chest over your heart. Sound waves sent from the transducer to your heart are echoed back to the transducer where they are recorded and converted by a computer into moving images.
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Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE): In this test, the ultrasound transducer will be inserted in the throat and guided to the esophagus where clearer images of the heart can be obtained without obstruction from the lungs and chest structures.
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Stress echocardiogram: During this test ultrasound images of your heart are taken before and immediately after you exercise on a treadmill or a stationary bike. The goal is to assess the pumping function of the heart and the blood flow through the arteries while your heart is exerted or stressed. This exertion is sometimes achieved through injection of a medication that would make the heart pump as hard as during physical exercise.
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Intravascular Ultrasound: Often performed during cardiac catheterization, this procedure involves threading of the ultrasound transducer into heart blood vessels via a catheter at an appropriate insertion point. The test may be used to detect atherosclerosis (blockage) of blood vessels.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
PET is a nuclear imaging test that uses a radioactive substance (tracer), a special camera and a computer to reveal damage or injury to your heart muscle and to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD). Gamma rays emitted by the radioactive material are detected and used to produce detailed 3-D images of your heart. PET scans can give cardiologists a strong indication of whether or not a patient may benefit from a surgical procedure, such as angioplasty, to open clogged arteries, or coronary artery bypass surgery.
You can read more about cardiac PET scan at the American Heart Association - PET scan.
Thallium Scans or Myocardial Perfusion Scans
Myocardial perfusion scan is a nuclear stress test that uses imaging to examine the health of the heart muscle and the flow of blood through it.
Nuclear Imaging SPECT
Cardiac Catheterization (Coronary Angiography)
Computed Tomography Angiography
Coronary Artery Calcium Scan/Scoring
Vascular Ultrasound Study
