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The Value of Cardiac Imaging

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease, and caused 8.8 million deaths worldwide in 2015. An early diagnosis and subsequent treatment is critical as patients with CAD are at increased risk of experiencing complications such as heart attack and stroke, which may lead to death.

The global impact of cardiovascular disease (CVD) on mortality and morbidity means that early and effective diagnosis and treatment is vital. Innovative cardiac medical imaging procedures – a subspecialty of diagnostic radiology – inform clinical decisions that are made throughout the continuum of care:

• Diagnosis: timely and accurate use of healthcare technology such as ultrasound, CT or MRI helps cardiologists and radiologists to diagnose diseases of the heart, such as CAD, effectively.
• Treatment: timely and correct diagnosis informs doctor’s decisions and improves quality of patient care by supporting the care team in determining an optimal therapeutic plan.
• Management: assists monitoring of disease progression or a patient’s response to treatment, as well as detection of other illnesses.

Advanced Imaging Techniques…

 …are key to improving outcomes for patients!

Every successful treatment starts with the right diagnosis and in addition to X-rays and ultrasounds, cardiac radiologists and cardiologists use advanced imaging techniques such as cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) scans to provide clear direction from diagnosis to care:

• Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance – CMR, sometimes known as cardiac MRI, is a medical imaging technology for the non-invasive assessment of the function and structure of the cardiovascular system. It is a radiation-free procedure and derived from and based on the same basic principles as MRI with optimization for use in the CV system. CMR obtains extremely high-quality images of the cardiac chambers using MRI, high-strength magnet and radio waves to scan the body. Some CMR involves injecting a contrast medium (gadolinium) during the scan to highlight the blood vessels on the images. This can also assist in providing information on tissue blood supply, inflammation and scarring.
• Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography (CTCA) – Angiography is the X-ray imaging of blood vessels using contrast agents injected into the bloodstream. CTCA uses CT scanning to take images (angiograms) of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the muscle of a beating heart.

Ongoing Advances

Advances in MR hardware and software have led to the widespread adoption of MR myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and new uses of contrast agents in patients with suspected CAD.

Today, CMR can be used to visualise heart function and structure and has become a standard imaging modality in a range of clinical applications including assessment of various cardiac diseases.

As the field of cardiac imaging expands, there are many current research avenues and trends that in the future could prove important to clinical practice.

The SPINS Study of the Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) Registry is gathering evidence of the real-world diagnostic and therapeutic impact of CMR on patient care, key issues guiding future technical development, clinical adaptation, regulatory approval and financial reimbursement.

Well-Informed Patients

Ensuring patients are informed is important, and Bayer is committed to supporting radiologists in their efforts to improve patient experience, bringing clear direction from diagnosis to care.

1,085 patients across seven countries were surveyed to understand their concerns and feelings when they underwent a CT or MRI.

Did you know? Patients experience a rollercoaster of emotions when going through an MRI or CT. This range of emotions makes them feel uneasy before, during, and after the procedure.