theheart.org: Imaging news and education

Acute Coronary Syndromes

CT-angiography-identified vulnerable plaque associated with higher risk of ACS

Jun 25, 2009 17:00 EDT

Identifying these unstable coronary plaques could be used to aggressively treat patients who are at higher risk for future events, according to researchers. There are skeptics, however, and at present even researchers concede there are no different preventive measures available to treat those with high-risk lesions.

Toyoake, Japan - Vulnerable plaques identified visually by computed-tomography (CT) angiography are more likely to result in a subsequent acute coronary syndrome during follow-up, a new study has shown [1]. Identifying these unstable coronary plaques, which have areas of low attenuation and have undergone positive remodeling, could be used to aggressively treat patients who are at higher risk for future events, according to researchers. Read full article »

Inside: Imaging

Accredited educational programs, supported by industry, developed by theheart.org

Imaging

Imaging and Risk Stratification in Heart Failure: Practical Perspectives

May 28, 2009 00:00 EDT

Drs. Prystowsky and Buxton engage nuclear cardiologists, Drs. Udelson and Cerqueira, to define what EPs need to know about a new imaging risk stratification tool for HF

Imaging

Imaging of Heart Failure: Improving Prognosis and Management Decisions

1 COMMENT - Apr 24, 2009 00:00 EDT

Drs. Topol, Cerqueira, and Garcia react to the ADMIRE-HF trial data, which ushers in a new paradigm in HF risk stratification strategies.

Imaging

Evaluate the image quality

May 21, 2009 10:08 EDT

Interventional/Surgery

Variable Rate Contrast Injection in the Cath Lab

6 COMMENTS - May 11, 2009 10:00 EDT

Variable rate contrast delivery systems have the potential to improve workflow and patient outcomes by providing a more precise flow of contrast. Watch Dr. Jeffrey Moses and his team as they demonstrate the use of the device in the cath lab in a patient with complex lesions.

Analyse This Image

Assessing the severity of stenosis

2 COMMENTS - Mar 3, 2009 10:10 EST

Based on the image displayed, what should be done to accurately assess the severity of stenosis in the left main coronary artery?

Interventional/Surgery

Optimal Acute Myocardial Infarction Management Redefined

11 COMMENTS - Dec 1, 2008 10:30 EST

Can drug-eluting stents now be considered the standard of care in patients with STEMI undergoing PCI? Can target lesion revascularization be reduced further? What about bleeding? Please join Drs Stone, White, and Harrington as they tackle these and other pressing questions in the treatment of AMI.

Interventional/Surgery

Where Has the Boundary Between PCI and CABG Moved?

14 COMMENTS - Oct 30, 2008 10:06 EDT

Will SYNTAX results mean more patients with complex lesions now receive DES? Join our international panel of experts, Drs Serruys, Mohr, Beatt, and Smith as they discuss optimal management of patients with complex cardiovascular lesions.

Clinical cardiology

CVD risks of HIV infection underestimated

Jun 26, 2009 12:00 EDT

HIV infection per se is an independent risk factor for preclinical atherosclerosis, with the magnitude of the effect being similar to that of known risk factors, such as smoking and diabetes, a new study has shown.

Imaging

Novel processing technique "freezes" cardiac motion during PET imaging

Jun 25, 2009 11:30 EDT

High-definition PET plus "motion-frozen" imaging technology yields ultraclear pictures of the heart to enhance the diagnosis of myocardial defects.

Imaging

Heart-attack prevention bill, mandating coverage for CAD screening, passes quietly in Texas

13 COMMENTS - Jun 23, 2009 15:30 EDT

UPDATED // After a rocky ride in and out of the Texas legislature (twice) and most recently a perplexing pairing with bariatric surgery, the bill is now poised to become law September 1.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

CT angiography does not reliably predict functional significance of lesions

8 COMMENTS - Jun 19, 2009 17:45 EDT

Investigators say that a diagnostic strategy relying on CTA alone should not be used for making revascularization decisions. An editorial accompanying the study echoes the group's conclusions.

Murmurs

theheart.org editor wins NIHCM journalism award

3 COMMENTS - Jun 16, 2009 13:00 EDT

Shelley Wood, managing editor of theheart.org, has won a 2009 National Institute for Health Care Management Journalism and Research Award for her "Myxo ring mix-up" series.

Imaging

Simple steps can reduce radiation dose with CT angiography

Jun 10, 2009 11:00 EDT

Researchers say that very simple steps can reduce radiation dose by more than 50%, without investing in some of the newer machines that have incorporated dose-reducing technology. But they also caution that centers performing CT angiography may not realize just how much radiation they are giving their patients.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

Intramyocardial bone-marrow injection for chronic ischemia

May 19, 2009 16:00 EDT

A small, short-term, phase 2 study examining intramyocardial injection of autologous bone-marrow cells in patients suffering from chronic myocardial ischemia has shown encouraging results. But the researchers say further studies are needed to assess the long-term results and efficacy for mortality and morbidity.

Arrhythmia/EP

No complications, no overheating with MRI-compatible pacemaker and leads

2 COMMENTS - May 14, 2009 16:40 EDT

UPDATED // Patients with pacemakers are not allowed in an MR scanner because of concerns about induced arrhythmias and overheated leads, but this study showed no complications and no changes in temperature at the tip of the lead. Investigators say this is good news, considering the growing number of pacemaker-implanted patients who require an MRI scan.

Clinical cardiology

First hint of a benefit for statins in rheumatic valve disease

May 11, 2009 17:00 EDT

A new retrospective echocardiography study has shown, for the first time, that statins might reduce the progression of aortic-valve stenosis caused by rheumatic heart disease. But the findings require confirmation, says an accompanying editorial.

Arrhythmia/EP

Blacks more likely to have AF than previously thought?

May 6, 2009 12:30 EDT

A new study has found that African Americans seem to have more abnormal values of atrial-fibrillation predictors on ECG than whites, which might help explain why they are at higher risk of ischemic stroke than whites, despite apparently having a lower prevalence of AF.

Arrhythmia/EP

Mortality risk one in 1000 for patients undergoing catheter ablation of AF

1 COMMENT - May 4, 2009 17:00 EDT

The most common cause of death was tamponade, followed by atrioesophageal fistula. In an accompanying editorial, one clinician states the decision about whether this is an acceptable risk rests with the patient.

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