Cardiac Imaging: Techniques, Applications, and Future Directions in CT, MRI, and Echocardiography

Othniel Barnett, BS, R.T.(R)(CT)(ARRT)®* and Hilda Bryant R.T.(R)(CT)(ARRT)®

^*Travel CT Technologist, Atlanta GA.

Address correspondence to: Othniel Barnett, BS, R.T.(R)(CT)(ARRT)^®; E-mail: othnielbarnett1@gmail.com.

Disclosure statement: The authors reports having no significant financial or advisory relationships with corporate organizations related to this activity.

ABSTRACT

In recent years, the rapid development of computed tomography (CT) technology has transformed cardiac imaging, providing valuable insights into diagnosing and monitoring various cardiovascular conditions. These advancements have revolutionized the field, enabling clinicians to obtain detailed anatomical and functional information about the heart and surrounding structures. The emergence of high-speed multidetector CT scanners offered improved spatial resolution, faster acquisition times, and enhanced coverage. As a result, more comprehensive assessments of coronary arteries, cardiac chambers, and valvular structures could be obtained. Other cardiac CT advancements such as dual-energy CT, dynamic CT perfusion, and coronary plaque characterization allowed for the evaluation of myocardial viability, plaque composition characterization, and hemodynamics assessment, providing crucial information for risk stratification and guiding therapeutic interventions. Innovations in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiography, and myocardial perfusion imaging with positron emission tomography and single-photon emission CT also allowed for precise quantification of cardiac chamber volumes, myocardial mass, and ejection fraction, and provided detailed evaluation of myocardial tissue characteristics and viability. Ongoing research in hybrid imaging, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are focused on further reducing radiation dose, streamlining workflow, optimizing image quality, and enhancing the diagnostic accuracy of cardiac imaging. This CE course will delve into all of these recent technological developments, discuss their clinical applications, and what the future holds in cardiac imaging.