What is the difference between cardiac angiography and color Doppler echocardiography?

Nov 08, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Tian Hongbo
Introduction
Cardiac angiography and echocardiography generally differ in examination principles, purposes, and procedures. Cardiac angiography is an invasive diagnostic method in which contrast agent is injected into blood vessels to visualize the heart vessels under X-ray exposure, thereby clearly showing the morphology, structure, and blood flow of the coronary arteries. It is recommended to visit a hospital promptly to learn more about specific examination options.

Cardiac angiography and cardiac color Doppler ultrasound generally differ in terms of diagnostic principles, objectives, procedures, presentation of results, and applicable populations. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Different diagnostic principles: Cardiac angiography is an interventional diagnostic method in which contrast agent is injected into blood vessels to visualize the heart vessels under X-ray irradiation, clearly showing the morphology, structure, and blood flow of the coronary arteries. Cardiac color Doppler ultrasound utilizes the physical properties of ultrasound to dynamically observe the structure and function of the heart in real time.

2. Different diagnostic objectives: Cardiac angiography is primarily used for diagnosing coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, clarifying whether there are lesions in the coronary arteries, as well as their location and severity. Cardiac color Doppler ultrasound focuses on evaluating the structure and function of the heart and can detect various heart diseases such as congenital heart disease, valvular heart disease, and cardiomyopathy.

3. Different procedures: Cardiac angiography must be performed in a catheterization laboratory. The patient requires local anesthesia, and the physician inserts a catheter through a punctured artery to reach the opening of the coronary arteries, then injects contrast agent and observes under X-ray fluoroscopy. The procedure for cardiac color Doppler ultrasound is relatively simple. The patient lies on the examination bed while the physician places the ultrasound probe on specific areas of the chest and obtains cardiac images from different angles by moving the probe.

4. Different result presentations: The results of cardiac angiography are mainly images of the coronary arteries, typically displayed as dynamic X-ray images. The results of cardiac color Doppler ultrasound are two-dimensional or three-dimensional images of the heart structure, showing morphological and motion characteristics of cardiac components such as the atria, ventricles, and valves.

5. Different applicable populations: Cardiac angiography is mainly suitable for patients suspected of having coronary artery disease. Cardiac color Doppler ultrasound has a broader application range and can be used for initial screening of various heart diseases.

It is recommended that patients promptly visit a hospital to learn specific details about the examination procedures and undergo appropriate tests under the guidance of a physician to clarify their health status.

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