There are many ways that imaging of the heart, or cardiac imaging, can be performed: x-ray, angiography, echocardiography, CT or MRI. In the Department of Radiology at Cincinnati Children’s, CT and MRI are the most frequently performed studies in pediatric patients to support diagnosis of a heart condition or defect.
Cardiac imaging at Cincinnati Children’s utilizes a multispecialty team approach with members from the Departments of Anesthesiology, Cardiology, and Radiology. Our imaging team includes specialized MRI technologists with dedicated training in cardiac MRI and physicians with subspecialty training and expertise in cardiovascular imaging.
In 2014, a dedicated cardiac MRI was installed in our cardiac care unit to provide a readily available MRI unit for patients needing cardiovascular imaging. The scanner is located in close proximity to the cardiovascular intensive care unit and cardiac angiography suites, facilitating safe and streamlined care to even the most fragile patients. If your child is scheduled for a cardiac MRI study, you will check in Location A on the 6th floor.
We perform over 1,000 cardiac studies per year. We serve a diverse population of patients ranging from neonates with complex congenital heart disease to adult patients with congenital and acquired cardiac and vascular diseases.
Contributed by Dr. Mantosh S. Rattan and edited by Wendy Bankes (Project Manager).