Heart Disease Tests
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Several tests diagnose possible heart disease. The choice of which (and how many) tests to perform depends on several things. These include a patient’s risk factors, history of heart problems, current symptoms and the doctor’s interpretation of these factors. People being evaluated for possible heart disease are usually given simple tests first. Then more complicated ones may be used, if needed. Specific tests depend on the patient’s particular problem(s) and the physician’s assessment. Some of these tests are noninvasive. That means they don’t involve inserting instruments or fluids into the body. Those that do are called invasive tests. |
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WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF NONINVASIVE TESTS?
Resting electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
Signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG)
Chest X-ray
Holter monitor (ambulatory electrocardiogram)
Echocardiogram
Exercise stress test
Computed tomography (CT) scan
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
WHAT ARE NUCLEAR IMAGING TESTS?
MUGA scan
Thallium stress test
Technetium stress test
Pharmacologic stress test
PET test
Stress echocardiography
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER IMAGING TESTS?
Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
Cardiac catheterization (“cath”) — also known as coronary angiography
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