Cardiac Imaging – Benefits and Risks

The imaging modality as cardiac computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopy, cardiac catheterization and angiography, heart rhythm abnormalities invasive tests and nuclear stress tests are performed under the ionizing radiation. Among the imaging modalities which do not expose patients to ionizing radiation are echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance.

“In general, the radiation-related risk of any imaging test to an individual patient is very small and, when the test is clinically appropriate, the benefits of the test typically far outweigh any potential risks”.

Clinical non-invasive cardiac imaging services, using the latest Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) technologies are used to diagnose a variety of heart conditions.

Both cardiac MRI and CT can be used to provide high quality cross-sectional images of the heart and the great vessels, in any desired orientation. Both modalities are useful for evaluating anatomic cardiac abnormalities, such as cardiac masses or congenital heart disease.