In which situations is an advanced cardiac imaging study performed Title

In which situations is an advanced cardiac imaging study performed?

In which situations is an advanced cardiac imaging study performed Content

Echocardiography, together with electrocardiography, is the most useful technique to diagnose inherited heart disease. These two techniques allow for the diagnosis of 90% of inherited heart disease.

Echocardiography not only allows for seeing the size (shape, thickness and diameter) of heart valves and chambers, but it also allows for studying their functions in motion. Usually, the images obtained through the spaces between the ribs are enough to know the most important data and diagnose or rule out heart disease.

When the image is not good enough, it is sometimes necessary to perform a transoesophageal echocardiogram, where the image is obtained thanks to the fact that the oesophagus is right behind the heart. There are some other types of echocardiography for special circumstances, such as stress echocardiography, with medication, or 3D echocardiography.

Even though it is a very frequently used technique, it has certain limitations. It is sometimes difficult to draw conclusions because the person is overweight, or too slim and therefore the space between the ribs is too narrow, or because the lung may cast a shadow. Some parts of the heart, such as the right ventricle or some big arteries, such as the aorta, may not be clearly seen in some persons.

Dr María José Oliva Sandoval and Dr Josefa González Carrillo are our reference professionals when it is necessary to perform advanced imaging techniques, whether a complex echocardiography or a cardiac MRI. Cardiac MRI is a high resolution technique without the limitations that an echocardiogram has with the chest wall. Moreover, when contrast is used, we can see if there is swelling or hardening areas (fibrosis) in the heart.

 

How often is it necessary to perform echocardiography follow-up?

Changes in heart muscle diseases happen slowly over years; therefore, relatives of patients with a heart disease need to undergo a follow-up, but an echocardiography is not necessary every year. In the previous section, you can find a summary of the frequency of follow-up recommended for each inherited heart disease.

 

When is it unnecessary to perform an echocardiogram?

The heart structure and function are normal in channelopathies or heart electrical disorders. In other words, an echocardiogram does not provide information for diagnostic in Brugada syndrome or in long QT syndrome.