CVT Cardiac Imaging & Nuclear Cardiology Flashcards

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is preferred over transthoracic echo (TTE) for evaluating:

Answer: Left atrial appendage thrombus

TEE provides superior visualization of the left atrial appendage (LAA) because the esophagus lies directly posterior to the left atrium, eliminating chest wall and lung interference.

The SYNTAX score is used in the context of cardiac imaging to:

Answer: Quantify the complexity of coronary artery disease for revascularization planning

The SYNTAX score grades the anatomic complexity of coronary artery disease from angiography or CCTA to guide decisions between PCI and CABG revascularization strategies.

On a cardiac CT scan, a coronary artery calcium score of 0 indicates:

Answer: Very low risk; no calcified plaque detected

A CAC score of 0 indicates no detectable calcified coronary plaque, associated with very low 10-year cardiovascular event risk and often used to defer statin therapy.

Which cardiac imaging technique uses high-frequency sound waves and the Doppler effect to assess blood flow velocity?

Answer: Doppler echocardiography

Doppler echocardiography uses the frequency shift of reflected ultrasound to calculate blood flow velocities and directions, enabling assessment of valve function and intracardiac pressures.

Which nuclear cardiology imaging modality offers superior sensitivity and specificity for CAD detection compared to SPECT?

Answer: Cardiac PET perfusion imaging

Cardiac PET perfusion imaging provides higher sensitivity (~90%) and specificity (~85%) for CAD detection than SPECT, partly due to higher spatial resolution and attenuation correction.

A MUGA (Multi-Gated Acquisition) scan is primarily used to measure:

Answer: Left ventricular ejection fraction with high reproducibility

MUGA scan uses ECG-gated Tc-99m labeled red blood cells to accurately measure LVEF by tracking blood pool volumes through the cardiac cycle.