Cardiac diagnostic imaging

Purpose: Cardiac imaging includes determination of the size and structure o f the cardiac chambers, valves, great vessels and the coronary arteries, ch amber and valvular function, myocardial perfusion,viability and metabolism. Material and methods: Chest roentgenography, angiography, echocardiography and nuclear imaging are commonly used but computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging also offer a promising potential. Results: Coronary angiography is the gold standard in assessing coronary an atomy. Fast CT technologies such as electron-beam and multi-row-CT are prom ising non-invasive imaging modalities in the assessment of coronary artery disease. With intravascular ultrasound early stages of coronary atheroscler osis can be detected. For the assessment of myocardial perfusion and viabil ity as well as cardiac function, scintigraphic methods are widely accepted. However, MRI methods have also reached a high degree of accuracy. Evaluati on of cham her and valvular function is, due to its wide availability, the field of echocardiography. Conclusions: In clinical routine chest roentgenography, angiography, echoca rdiography and nuclear imaging are well established, The value of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of coronary art ery disease, myocardial perfusion, viability and metabolism is yet to be de fined.