There are three primary types of<unk> : transthoracic, transesophageal, and intracardic. Stress testing utilizes tranthoracic echo in combination with an exercise modality (e.g., a treadmill). Intravascular ultrasound is included below, but is as the name indicates more "ultrasound" than<unk> " as it is imaging the walls of a vessel rather than the heart. Transthoracic<unk> rdiogram A standard<unk> rdiogram is also known as a transthoracic<unk> rdiogram or cardiac ultrasound. In this case, the<unk>  transducer (or probe) is placed on the chest wall (or thorax) of the subject, and images are taken through the chest wall. This is a non-invasive, highly accurate, and quick assessment of the overall health of the heart. Transesophageal<unk> rdiogram This is an alternative way to perform an<unk> rdiogram. A specialized probe containing an ultrasound transducer at its tip is passed into the patient's esophagus. This allows image and Doppler evaluation from a location directly behind the heart. This is known as a transesophageal<unk> rdiogram. Transesophageal<unk> rdiograms are most often used when transthoracic images are suboptimal and when a clearer and more precise image is needed for assessment. This test is performed in the presence of a cardiologist, registered nurse, and ultrasound technologist. Conscious sedation and/or localized numbing medication may be used to make the patient more comfortable during the procedure. Stress<unk>  A stress<unk> rdiogram, also known as a stress echo, uses ultrasound imaging of the heart to assess the wall motion in response to physical stress. First, images of the heart are taken "at rest" to acquire a baseline of the patient's wall motion at a resting heart rate. The patient then walks on a treadmill or uses another exercise modality to increase the heart rate to his or her target heart rate, or 85% of the age-predicted maximum heart rate (220 − patient's age). Finally, images of the heart are taken "at stress" to assess wall motion at the peak heart rate. A stress echo assesses wall motion of the heart; it does not, however, create an image of the coronary arteries directly. Ischemia of one or more coronary arteries could cause a wall motion abnormality, which could indicate coronary artery disease. The gold standard test to directly create an image of the coronary arteries and directly assess for stenosis or occlusion is a cardiac catheterization. A stress echo is not invasive and is performed in the presence of a licensed medical professional, such as a cardiologist, and a cardiac sonographer. Intracardiac<unk>  Intracardiac<unk>  (ICE) is specialized form of<unk>  that uses catheters to insert the ultrasound probe inside the heart to view 2D structures from within. ICE is often used as a part of cardiac procedures such as crossing the interatrial septum with a transseptal puncture to permit catheter access from the right atrium to the left atrium. ICE has the benefit over transthoracic<unk>  in that an operator who is performing a sterile procedure can also operate the ICE catheter and ICE is not limited to visibility problems that can arise with transthoracic echo. Semi-invasive transesophageal echo has fewer visibility difficulties as transthoracic, but requires a second non-sterile operator to perform. ICE is often inserted through the femoral vein and into the right atrium. From the right atrium, visualization of the interatrial septum, all four cardiac chambers, all four valves, and the pericardial space (for an effusion) can be readily visualized. Intravascular ultrasound Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a specialized form of<unk>  that uses a catheter to insert the ultrasound probe inside blood vessels. This is commonly used to measure the size of blood vessels and to measure the internal diameter of the blood vessel. For example, this can be used in a coronary angiogram to assess the narrowing of the coronary artery. If the catheter is retraced in a controlled manner, then an internal map can be generated to see the contour of the vessel and its branches.
Echocardiography
Magnetocardiography
Doppler echocardiography
Tissue Doppler echocardiography
Phonocardiogram
Coronary CT calcium scan
Ballistocardiography
Intracoronary optical coherence tomography