CV Imaging: What Was New in 2012?

Abstract

Echocardiography, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), cardiac magnetic resonance, and cardiac computed tomography can be used for anatomic and functional imaging of the heart. All 4 methods are subject to continuous improvement. Echocardiography benefits from the more widespread availability of 3-dimensional imaging, strain and strain rate analysis, and contrast applications. SPECT imaging continues to provide very valuable prognostic data, and PET imaging, on the one hand, permits quantification of coronary flow reserve, a strong prognostic predictor, and, on the other hand, can be used for molecular imaging, allowing the analysis of extremely small-scale functional alterations in the heart. Magnetic resonance is gaining increasing importance as a stress test, mainly through perfusion imaging, and continues to provide very valuable prognostic information based on late gadolinium enhancement. Magnetic resonance coronary angiography does not substantially contribute to clinical cardiology at this point in time. Computed tomography imaging of the heart mainly concentrates on the imaging of coronary artery lumen and plaque and has made substantial progress regarding outcome data. In this review, the current status of the 5 imaging techniques is illustrated by reviewing pertinent publications of the year 2012.

Matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitor after reperfused ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with doxycycline. Insights from the TIPTOP trial

“…Of these, the absence of an assessment with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) deserves further comment. Without doubt MRI is the gold standard for noninvasive assessment of LV morphology/function, and tissue characterization [47]. This must be taken into account in the planning of new trials.…”

Diagnostic Value of Single-Photon Emission Tomography Stress Test in Patients With Suspected Coronary Artery Disease in Saudi Arabia

“…In addition, they have a superior utility in evaluating patients with left bundle branch block, ventricular paced rhythm, and left ventricular hypertrophy. Studies have linked SPECT with higher false-positive results when used to evaluate CAD patients due to limited spatial resolution in certain cases (e.g., breast attenuation, left ventricular hypertrophy) [7][8][9]. The use of the nuclear stress test is relatively safe, most of the side effects are minimal and transient, and the majority is linked to the pharmacological stressors used.…”

“…Patients were further subdivided into four groups based on the results of the SPECT and ICA demographics as shown in Table3. The median (IQR) of total ischemia scar was 9(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14) and the mean of total scar size was 0.47 ± 2.01. Other characteristics of the SPECT study are shown in Table4.…”

Cardiac MR elastography of the mouse: Initial results

“…Increased left ventricle (LV) stiffness, one of the contributing factors to abnormal systolic or diastolic function, has been found in various cardiovascular diseases such as diastolic heart failure, cardiac fibrosis, steatosis, altered sarcomere activity, and hypertension . Conventionally, the primary approaches to assessing the contractility of the LV include an invasive method of measuring the pressure–volume curves over the cardiac cycle and noninvasive approaches of assessing deformation of the LV during systole and diastole, such as tagged MRI or strain and strain rate echocardiography .…”