Echocardiography, Cardiac CT and MRI

Echocardiography: An echocardiography is a test that uses high frequency sound waves to produce live images of heart to see structure of heart and to evaluate heart functions. The image is called an echocardiogram. It has no side effects. Echocardiography helps doctor to find out:

• The size and shape of heart, thickness and movement of heart’s wall.
• How heart moves
• The heart’s pumping strength.
• If the heart values are working correctly.
• If blood is leaking backwards through heart values.
• If the heart values are too narrow
• If there is a tumor or infectious growth around heart values

Cardiac CT: Cardiac CT is also known as computed tomography of heart and is performed to know about cardiac anatomy to diagnose coronary artery disease, to check patency of coronary artery bypass grafts or to assess volume try and cardiac function.

MRI: MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create images of organs and tissues with the body. MRI scan varies from CT scans and X-rays as it does not involve use of potentially harmful ionizing radiations.