Novel imaging techniques in pulmonary hypertension

Curr Opin Cardiol. 2018 Nov;33(6):587-593. doi: 10.1097/HCO.0000000000000559.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Pulmonary hypertension is a life-shortening condition, which may be idiopathic but is more frequently seen in association with other conditions. Current guidelines recommend cardiac catheterization to confirm the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. Evidence suggests an increasing role for noninvasive imaging modalities in the initial diagnostic and prognostic assessment and evaluation of treatment response.

Recent findings: In this review we examine the evidence for current noninvasive imaging methodologies: echocardiography computed tomography and MRI in the diagnostic and prognostic assessment of suspected pulmonary hypertension and explore the potential utility of modeling and machine-learning approaches.

Summary: Noninvasive imaging allows a comprehensive assessment of patients with suspected pulmonary hypertension. It plays a key part in the initial diagnostic and prognostic assessment and machine-learning approaches show promise in the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cardiac Catheterization / methods*
  • Echocardiography / methods*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*