Understand the Benefits and Risks of Cardiac Imaging Tests

Radiation exposure is a concern with some of these diagnostic tests, so have frank discussion with your doctor about what tests are necessary for you.

0
Heart disease remains Americas number one killer, and medical technology is in hot pursuit of ways to diagnose patients earlier and more accurately and treat them less invasively. This has resulted in an explosion of cardiac imaging tests and procedures performed every year. In many instances, there is little doubt these tests save lives. However, all but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and some ultrasound-based procedures expose patients to radiation.Patients and physicians alike have growing concerns about the long-term cancer risks from radiation delivered through CT angiography, myocardial perfusion imaging, diagnostic cardiac catheterization, percutaneous coronary procedures and electrophysiology procedures.
To continue reading this article or issue you must be a paid subscriber. Sign in

Subscribe to Heart Advisor

Get the next year of Heart Advisor for just $20. And access all of our online content - over 2,000 articles - free of charge.
Subscribe today and save 38%. It's like getting 5 months FREE!
Already Subscribed?
Click Here to Sign In | Forgot your password? | Activate Web Access