Cardiologists expect the top three modalities for diagnosing key cardiac conditions to become CT angiography (CTA) and MR angiography (MRA) and diagnostic catheterization over the next three years, reported a study recently published by IMV Medical Information Division.
While the “top three imaging modalities currently used by cardiologists for diagnosing key cardiac conditions are echocardiography, SPECT and cardiac cath,” clinicians surveyed anticipate that CTA and MRA will be used more routinely, with CTA superceding SPECT for diagnosing cardiac conditions.
The study, which involved interviews with over 200 U.S. cardiologists in July 2006, examines the role of U.S. cardiologists in evaluating the feasibility of using advanced imaging technologies to enhance patient care. “In addition to deciding which imaging modalities are most effective for particular cardiac indications, physicians will choose whether to refer patients out or to acquire these new imaging technologies for their practices,” said Mary C. Patton, director, Market Research, IMV.
Other important trends identified in the report include:
• U.S. cardiologists consider echocardiography the number one diagnostic imaging modality used to evaluate congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, endocarditis, syncope and recent survivors of myocardial infarction and ventricular fibrillation.
• 72 percent of U.S. cardiologists today order CTA procedures and 59 percent order MR or MRA procedures on a monthly basis.
• Cardiologists identify SPECT as one of the modalities they use more today than three years ago and 96 percent routinely order SPECT procedures on a monthly basis.
May 21, 2025 
