Radiation during cardiovascular imaging

Several imaging modalities are available for the optimal management of patients with cardiovascular disease. When assessing any imaging technique, the radiation dose must be considered along with the value of the imaging technique. In this article, we summarise the radiation doses associated with cardiovascular imaging techniques, such as heart catheterisation, nuclear medicine and multi-slice computed tomography. The effective dose of the dual isotope scan, an image modality frequently used in cardiac patients, is higher (-25 mSv) than cardiac computed tomography (-10 mSv) or diagnostic heart catheterisation (-5 mSv). The physician should weigh carefully which test to recommend in each patient.