A Comprehensive Review of Cardiac and Pulmonary Radiology

Cardiac imaging is a subspecialty of diagnostic radiology. A cardiac radiologist supervises or performs and then interprets medical images to diagnose diseases of the heart such as heart disease, leaky heart valves and defects in the size and shape of the heart. A cardiac radiologist uses imaging techniques such as X-rays, ultrasound (echocardiograms), CT (computed tomography) scans and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans. These tests are used to screen for heart disease, determine what is causing your symptoms and monitor your heart and find out if your treatment is working. Thoracic disease expertise includes interstitial lung disease, pulmonary infections, thoracic malignancies, occupational lung disorders, and smoking related lung injuries. Cardiac and vascular disease expertise includes ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies, pediatric and adult congenital heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and noninvasive evaluation of thoracic and abdominal endoluminal graft repairs.