Contemporary cardiac imaging - An overview

Comprehensive cardiac assessment embraces virtually every imaging modality and includes information about coronary vascular anatomy as well as cardiac morphology, function, perfusion, metabolism, and tissue characterization. Through sophisticated computer processing and image analysis, and image ana lysis, newer imaging technologies such as computed tomography (CT), magneti c resonance (MR), MR spectroscopy, and positron emission tomography now pro vide quantitative information that may obviate more invasive angiographic a ssessment. Currently, no single imaging technology realizes all questions r elating to cardiac form and function, and many of the technologies overlap in the content and quality of information they provide. This overview seeks to provide a broad perspective on current cardiac imaging, articulating th e benefits of various technologies and their limitations.