Cardiac Imaging

While cardiac ultrasound is the widely used imaging modality for heart assessments, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear imaging are also used and are often complimentary, each offering specific details about the heart other modalities cannot. For this reason the clinical question being asked often determines the imaging test that will be used.

Dual-energy cardiac CT postprocessing as easy as a mouse click

 Researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charlestonare routinely using dual-energy cardiac CT imaging on low- tointermediate-risk patients with chest pain. The approach deliversstenotic data, as well as its hemodynamic relevance.

3D, 3T MRA demonstrates clinical value for PAD

A non-contrast time-resolved MR imaging technique promises to help interventional cardiologists treat peripheral vascular disease.

SNM: PET detects early signs of cardiac disease

PET imaging of asymptomatic individuals revealed coronary vasculardysfunction as a functional precursor of coronary artery disease,according to research presented during this week's SNM conference inNew Orleans.

SNM: Lantheus PET myocardial perfusion imaging tracer is well-tolerated

Preliminary clinical findings indicate that when used with PETtechnology, Lantheus Medical’s PET Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Tracerdemonstrates a favorable radiation dosimetry profile and is generallywell-tolerated, according to phase I data presented during the Societyof Nuclear Medicine (SNM) conference in New Orleans.

Siemens highlights new heart SPECT technology

Siemens Healthcare highlighted its work-in-progress IQ-SPECT as thecompany’s newest Symbia application, which enables a comprehensivecardiac evaluation including perfusion, attenuation correction andcalcium scoring in just five minutes, this week at the 2008 Society ofNuclear Medicine (SNM) meeting in New Orleans.

Positron acquires Dose Shield to expand nuc cardiology radiopharma portfolio

Positron has acquired Dose Shield, a subsidiary of NukeMed, and has formed a new subsidiary, Positron Pharmaceuticals.

Ziosoft, Johns Hopkins to develop cardiac advanced viz applications

Ziosoft, a provider of advanced visualization and analysis software formedical imaging, is partnering with Johns Hopkins University inBaltimore, to explore innovative applications for cardiac CT and MRimaging.

CT angiography provides added advantage to children with great artery anomalies

Researchers in France found that 64-slice CT coronary angiographyperforms as well as invasive angiography to detect significant coronarylesions in children who have undergone the arterial switch procedurefor transposition of the great arteries. They also found that CTprovides information on the underlying mechanism of coronary luminalnarrowing.

Around the web

Several key trends were evident at the Radiological Society of North America 2024 meeting, including new CT and MR technology and evolving adoption of artificial intelligence.

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.