Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Experience with the Multimodality Near-Infrared Spectroscopy/Intravascular Ultrasound Coronary Imaging System: Principles, Clinical Experience, and Ongoing Studies
Abstract Coronary near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a catheter-based imaging technique that can reliably detect lipid core plaques in the coronary artery wall. NIRS has now been combined with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in a single catheter. The combined NIRS/IVUS instrument provides all the information obtained by IVUS and adds lipid detection by NIRS. The instrument can detect large lipid core plaques that are at increased risk of causing periprocedural myocardial infarction during stenting. Preliminary data indicate that NIRS/IVUS imaging can identify vulnerable patients and vulnerable plaques...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - January 21, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Cardiac Innervation Imaging: Implications for Risk Stratification and Therapeutic Decision-Making
This article reviews the current status on the subject and evaluates the literature published over recent years. (Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports)
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - January 18, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Angioscopy in 2015: the Role of Macroscopic Pathology in Living Patients
Abstract Angioscopy can detect lipid-rich yellow plaques that are regarded as vulnerable plaques. The patients who have multiple yellow plaques are regarded as vulnerable patients. The disrupted plaques can also be visualized directly by angioscopy, but they can be detected more sensitively as the presence of thrombus. On the other hand, angioscopy can also evaluate the neointima formed over stents. The follow-up angioscopic examinations after the implantation of coronary stents visualized atherosclerosis progression as the formation of yellow plaque in the stent-implanted segments. Recently, the presen...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - January 16, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Radiation Dose Reduction from Radionuclide Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
Abstract Due to a tremendous increase in imaging usage in the last decades, in particular of myocardial perfusion imaging with radionuclide tracers, significant concerns have been recently raised on the possible harmful effect of the exposure of patients and health care operators to ionizing radiation. Recent estimates indicate that cardiac imaging procedures account for almost 40 % of the cumulative dose for imaging procedures. Thus, pertinent scientific associations published recommendations directed to limit patients’ exposure. The key points in the dose optimization process, including appropriate...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - January 11, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Prediction Models for Cardiac Risk Classification with Nuclear Cardiology Techniques
Abstract Regression modeling strategies are increasingly used for the management of subjects with cardiovascular diseases as well as for decision-making of subjects without known disease but who are at risk of disease in the short- or long-term or during life span. Accurate individual risk assessment, taking in account clinical, laboratory, and imaging data is useful for choosing among prevention strategies and/or treatments. The value of nuclear cardiology techniques for risk stratification has been well documented. Many models have been proposed and are available for diagnostic and prognostic purposes...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - January 6, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography Derived Fractional Flow Reserve and Plaque Stress
Abstract Fractional flow reserve (FFR) measured during invasive coronary angiography is an independent prognosticator in patients with coronary artery disease and the gold standard for decision making in coronary revascularization. The integration of computational fluid dynamics and quantitative anatomic and physiologic modeling now enables simulation of patient-specific hemodynamic parameters including blood velocity, pressure, pressure gradients, and FFR from standard acquired coronary computed tomography (CT) datasets. In this review article, we describe the potential impact on clinical practice and ...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - January 5, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Nuclear Cardiology in the Management of Patients with Heart Failure
Abstract Heart failure is increasing worldwide, resulting in considerable disability, mortality, and high healthcare costs. Gated-SPECT or PET imaging is the most prominent imaging modality useful both for diagnosis and prognosis, capable of providing information about ventricular function, presence of intraventricular synchronism, and myocardial perfusion in the same test. In addition, PET can also offer quantification of coronary blood flow and metabolism. On the other hand, 123I- metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy is the only imaging technique which provides information regarding the adrener...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - December 29, 2015 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Pulmonary Hypertension
This article reviews the current literature on MRI in pulmonary hypertension and also describes new and exciting developments in imaging of the heart, pulmonary vasculature and lungs, including assessment of myocardial changes with late gadolinium-enhanced imaging and T1 mapping, evaluating changes in the proximal pulmonary vasculature using image-based computational modelling and quantitative assessment of the capillary bed using MRI perfusion analysis. (Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports)
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - October 26, 2015 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

T1 Mapping for the Study of Cardiac Hypertrophy
Abstract Cardiovascular magnetic resonance has a fundamental role for diagnostic and prognostic assessment of cardiac hypertrophy. T1 mapping is a rapidly evolving field, and in the last years, many studies have applied this technique to study cardiac hypertrophy. In the current review, we discuss the results of the main studies on this topic, and we provide some insight on potential applications of this technique and unsolved questions that warrant further investigation. (Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports)
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - October 26, 2015 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Automation with Anatomical Intelligence as a Novel Pathway in Echocardiography for the Advancement of Measurements and Analysis
Abstract Clinical environments are rapidly changing to demand higher throughputs, lower cost, and more successful clinical outcomes. Echocardiography has, in turn, been forced to evolve. In addition to providing real-time imaging at a relatively low cost and risk to the patient, it now also provides rapid and robust measurements that aid in monitoring, diagnosis, and intervention. These advancements of measurements and analysis are achieved through automation afforded by Anatomical Intelligence, which is an automatic recognition and segmentation of anatomic structures within an echo image by a trained a...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - October 14, 2015 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Imaging During Percutaneous Valvular Heart DiseaseInterventions: Is More Better or Less?
Abstract Percutaneous valvular interventions have become a valid option in the treatment of valvular heart disease (VHD) for patients with prohibited surgical risk and multiple comorbidities. Multimodality imaging plays an increasingly central role in the evaluation of these interventions in which precise guidance for appropriate and accurate positioning of the device is mandatory. This review will discuss the role of these imaging modalities in patient selection and the pre-procedural assessment of the valve, intra-procedural guidance and, ultimately, result evaluation. (Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports)
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - October 1, 2015 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Virtual Histology-Intravascular Ultrasound
Abstract Although gray-scale intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has been an established method for assessing coronary lesion morphology and quantifying the atheroma, its role in plaque characterization is limited. Based on the spectral analysis of the primary raw backscattered radiofrequency signal, virtual histology (VH)-IVUS provides detailed tissue maps. Despite some methodological pitfalls, VH-IVUS has been used in recent clinical trials that suggested thin-cap fibroatheroma and large plaque burden as the predictors of future cardiovascular events related to non-culprit lesions. In addition, VH-IVUS he...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - September 30, 2015 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Vector Flow Mapping in Mitral Valve Disease: a Novel Method for the Assessment of Flow Mechanics and Their Potential Implications for Mitral Valve Repair
Abstract In the last few years, the development of new techniques enabling visualization and quantification of flow behavior inside cardiac chambers has increased the interest in flow mechanics, blood-tissue interaction, and the potential application of these new data to diagnosis and guidance of treatment. Several studies have focused on flow dynamics inside the left ventricle and a differential aspect in it: the vortex ring. In this article, we briefly describe the key role of the mitral valve on the generation of physiologic flow dynamics. We also review how mitral valve disease and its treatment can...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - September 14, 2015 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Imaging in Deciphering Histological Substrates in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
This article aims to review the recent developments in advanced imaging and their potential clinical implications in HCM. The majority of these developments have occurred in the field of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, which is reflected in CMR forming a large proportion of the article, with other non-CMR techniques discussed in relation to these findings. Realizing the histological progression of HCM through advanced imaging has the potential to revolutionize diagnosis, management and future treatment. (Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports)
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - September 11, 2015 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Cardiac CT for Quantification of Epicardial Fat: Where to Measure and Why?
This article reviews the available literature concerning imaging and quantification of epicardial adipose tissue and its potential clinical significance. (Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports)
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - September 11, 2015 Category: Radiology Source Type: research