Imaging refers to any method that generates images of the heart’s structure. It is utilized to identify diseases or irregularities in the heart.
A chest X-ray is a straightforward and commonly employed technique for imaging the heart. It reveals the size and shape of the heart and can identify abnormal calcification. Additionally, X-rays can often detect pulmonary edema, which is an excess of fluid in the lungs, as well as the engorgement of the vessels that connect the heart and lungs.
Echocardiography is a valuable tool for examining congenital heart defects and abnormalities in the heart valves or wall. It employs an ultrasound technique, called Doppler echocardiography, to measure blood flow through the valves. Angiography is another method used to evaluate the condition of the coronary arteries and heart valves.
Radionuclide scanning is a versatile technique used for various purposes related to heart health. It can detect myocardial infarction (heart attack), assess myocardial function, measure blood supply to the heart, and determine the viability of the heart muscle after a disruption to the blood supply. The specific information obtained depends on the type of radioisotope used. For instance, thallium-201 can be employed to investigate the viability of heart muscle. Radionuclide scans can also generate images of ventricular function, such as using a MUGA scan to assess the heart’s pumping capacity with each beat and check for proper contraction of different parts of the heart wall.
Both high-speed CT scanning and MRI are capable of generating highly detailed cross-sectional or three-dimensional images of the heart’s structure.