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.

To eat or not to eat: Is fasting still necessary before heart procedures?
As one may expect, patient satisfaction was considerably higher for individuals who did not have to fast for a minimum of six hours prior to treatment. There were no other significant differences.
Pulmonary embolism thrombectomy use increases by more than 700%
Medicare claims submitted between 2017 and 2022 showed a 712% increase in thrombectomy for pulmonary embolism (PE) and a 137% increase in thrombectomy for deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Private equity-backed Medline files for IPO
The company, founded in 1966, has been providing supplies to cardiac surgery suites and cath labs for decades.
Key takeaways for interventional cardiology from TCT 2025
B. Hadley Wilson, MD, talked to Cardiovascular Business about several standout late-breaking clinical trials presented at TCT 2025. Topics of those trials included drug-coated balloons, TAVR valve durability, pulmonary embolism treatments and much more.
FDA clears new AI-enabled coronary plaque analysis software
Circle Cardiovascular Imaging, a Canadian medtech company, received the key approval for its cvi42 | Plaque platform.

Oregon hospital sued for $7M by patient 'too large' for MRI

A patient deemed too big to fit inside an MRI machine and sent home has filed a $7 million medical negligence lawsuit against Providence Health and Services, according to an article published June 21 by the Portland Business Journal.

SNMMI backs updated ASNC guidelines on SPECT MPI

New 2018 guidelines for myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) protocols on conventional and novel single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for nuclear cardiology practitioners has received praise from the Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Is coronary CTA or stress echocardiography better for chest pain triage?

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the current go-to for triaging chest pain patients in the emergency department (ED), but a recent study found the often-overlooked stress echocardiography (SE) may actually be safer and provide patients with a better overall experience.

Study: Stress echo edges coronary CTA for efficient triage of chest pain

The “often overlooked” strategy of stress echocardiography outperformed coronary CT angiography (CTA) in a randomized trial of low to intermediate-risk patients with acute chest pain, resulting in fewer hospitalizations, shorter stays and similar midrange safety outcomes.

Data fatigue: Machine learning predicts post-echocardiography survival with EHR assistance

Machine learning can accurately predict survival after echocardiography by analyzing unique data produced from heart images and electronic health record (EHR) information, according to a recent study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging.

Ultrafast Doppler imaging can visualize vascular areas ‘uncharted’ by current angiography methods

A new vascular imaging technique—coronary ultrafast Doppler angiography (CUDA)—can accurately and noninvasively map the intramyocardial coronary structure and quantify fluctuations in intramural coronary blood flow.

Machine learning with echocardiographic, EHR data improves survival predictions

Machine learning models using echocardiographic data and variables from the electronic health record (EHR) can significantly improve mortality predictions compared to traditional risk scores, researchers reported in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.

USPSTF: Do not screen asymptomatic adults for CVD using ECG

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a Grade D recommendation against screening with resting or exercise electrocardiography (ECG) to prevent cardiovascular disease events in asymptomatic adults at low risk of CVD events.

Cardiac Imaging

To eat or not to eat: Is fasting still necessary before heart procedures?

Pulmonary embolism thrombectomy use increases by more than 700%

Private equity-backed Medline files for IPO

Key takeaways for interventional cardiology from TCT 2025

FDA clears new AI-enabled coronary plaque analysis software