Imaging in Cardiovascular Disease

Imaging in Cardiovascular Disease offers the vital information clinicians need to accurately assess the complex array of cardiovascular imaging modalities and to determine their appropriate, cost-effective applications in clinical cardiology. The first section examines every major imaging technology - ultrasound-based methods, radionuclide-based methods and nuclear cardiology, X-ray methods, and magnetic resonance-based methods - as well as analytic approaches to cost-effectiveness and outcomes measurement. A major portion of the book describes the role of specific techniques in diagnosing specific disorders, thus providing a useful guide to choosing the right imaging test for a given clinical situation. The concluding section discusses the implications of managed care and other health care reforms for imaging applications. More than 600 illustrations complement the text.