Stress echocardiography: what is new and how does it compare with myocardial perfusion imaging and other modalities?

Curr Cardiol Rep. 2015 Jun;17(6):43. doi: 10.1007/s11886-015-0600-1.

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and noninvasive strategies to diagnose and risk stratify patients remain paramount in the evaluative process. Stress echocardiography is a well-established, versatile, real-time imaging modality with advantages including lack of radiation exposure, portability, and affordability. Innovative techniques in stress echocardiography include myocardial contrast echocardiography, deformation imaging, three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography, and assessment of coronary flow reserve. Myocardial perfusion imaging with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) are imaging alternatives, and stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography, including CT perfusion imaging, are emerging as newer approaches. This review will discuss recent and upcoming developments in the field of stress testing, with an emphasis on stress echocardiography while highlighting comparisons with other modalities.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnosis*
  • Echocardiography, Stress*
  • Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional*
  • Exercise Test
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Myocardial Perfusion Imaging*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon