Cardiovascular Imaging Glossary

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space between the visceral and parietal pericardium.

An MRI technique that uses phase information to measure blood flow velocity and volume.

Area of reduced or absent radiotracer uptake on nuclear imaging, indicating perfusion abnormality or scar.

A quantitative echocardiographic method used to calculate mitral regurgitation severity by measuring flow convergence.

A collection of blood outside an artery wall that communicates with the arterial lumen through a defect.

Phase-sensitive inversion recovery, an MRI sequence optimized for detecting myocardial scar tissue.

An electrophysiology procedure to electrically isolate pulmonary veins from the left atrium to treat atrial fibrillation...

The contractile motion of individual cardiac wall segments during the cardiac cycle.

Abnormal contraction pattern in specific myocardial segments, typically indicating coronary artery disease.

Abnormal anterior movement of the mitral valve during systole, potentially causing LVOT obstruction.

The process of optimizing magnetic field homogeneity in MRI to reduce artifacts and improve image quality.

A nuclear imaging technique that creates 3D images of blood flow and metabolic activity in the heart.

Steady-state free precession, a fast MRI sequence providing high blood-to-myocardium contrast.

Short Tau Inversion Recovery, an MRI sequence that suppresses signal from fat tissue while maintaining signal from fluid...

Advanced echocardiographic technique measuring myocardial deformation to detect subtle cardiac dysfunction.

Reversible myocardial dysfunction following ischemia-reperfusion, despite restored blood flow.

Angiographic scoring system used to assess the complexity of coronary artery disease and guide revascularization decisio...

An advanced cardiac MRI technique that quantifies tissue T1 relaxation times to assess myocardial composition.

Cardiac MRI technique that quantifies myocardial edema and inflammation by measuring tissue T2 relaxation times.

Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, an echocardiographic measurement of right ventricular longitudinal function.

Delayed onset of myocardial contraction during systole, often indicating conduction abnormalities or ischemia.

A minimally invasive procedure to replace an aortic valve using catheter-based delivery.

Transesophageal echocardiography; ultrasound imaging via probe placed in esophagus for detailed heart visualization.

Standardized grading system (0-3) for assessing blood flow through coronary arteries during angiography.