Ultrasound

Ultrasound, also referred to as sonography or diagnostic ultrasound, uses high-frequency sound waves to visualize soft tissue. Ultrasounds are frequently ordered to measure fetal anatomy during pregnancy, check for blood clots and to guide needle biopsy procedures of the breast, abdomen and pelvis. The imaging modality does not use any radiation to create images. Find news specific to cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography).

William A. Zoghbi, MD, MACC, FAHA, FASE, is the chair of the Department of Cardiology at the Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, and past president of both the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE).

VIDEO: New advances in echocardiography

William A. Zoghbi, MD, past president of the ACC and ASE, discussed the latest trends in cardiac ultrasound technology. 

The mitral valve seen on 3D cardiac ultrasound offers a noninvasive surgeon's view of the valve for better diagnostics and pre-planning of structural heart procedures. Example from the GE Vivid E95 FlexiLight photo-realistic 3D/4D lighting system.

Q&A: William Zoghbi breaks down the future of echocardiography

In a new interview, former ACC and ASE President William A. Zoghbi, MD, reviews some of the biggest trends in cardiac ultrasound.

Any further safety concerns could hinder ultrasound contrast agent delivery, manufacturer warns

North Billerica, Massachusetts-based Lantheus shared its forecast in a quarterly financial report published May 4. 

Thumbnail

Providers must rethink traditional imaging approaches to prevent cardiotoxicity in cancer patients

Specifically, doctors should consider adding routine global longitudinal strain to their surveillance of patients undergoing chemotherapy, experts argued recently.

Thumbnail

Shear wave imaging ‘extremely promising’ for assessment of myocardial stiffness in heart transplant recipients

The noninvasive technique shows potential where cardiac magnetic resonance imaging falls short.

Caption Health gains FDA clearance for AI-powered ejection fraction software

The original software first received FDA clearance back in 2018. This updated version, Caption Health has said, is easier for clinicians to use. 

Thumbnail

Group publishes new stress echo guidelines for ischemic heart disease

The American Society of Echocardiography released the new recommendations to replace its 2007 edition.

Thumbnail

What’s to Gain from Strain? Experts Say Strain Echocardiography Is on the Path to Acceptance

Despite its diagnostic and prognostic value, speckle-tracking strain echocardiography is underused, some cardiac imagers say. What will it take for adoption to pick up?

Around the web

GE HealthCare said the price of iodine contrast increased by more than 200% between 2017 to 2023. Will new Chinese tariffs drive costs even higher?

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.