Summary

Diagnostic imaging utilization continues to grow in the United States. In one report, the number of inpatients getting magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography scans doubled from 1996 to 2002 [Beinfield & Gazelle. Radiolog 2005]. As the use and associated health care costs of imaging diagnostics continues to rise, it is important that clinicians select the correct test for each patient. Several experts in the fields of cardiac imaging presented their insight into the advantages of different imaging modalities in various cardiac patient populations.