Advances in Noninvasive Cardiology: Ultrasound, computed tomography, radioisotopes, digital angiography (Developments in Cardiovascular Medicine)

Many noninvasive examination methods of the heart have not held out against the invasive methods, which modern cardiac therapy, surgically or with catheterization, requires. They have disappeared completely or are only used by isolated groups of researchers. However, there is an obvious tendency to apply the invasive procedures as the last diagnostic possibility. In the attempt to select clinically relevant methods, the expert authors of this book demonstrate that echocardiography, expanded with contrast and Doppler, has been developed into one of the most important noninvasive methods. The results with tissue characterization show that the possibilities of this method have not yet been fully explored. Nuclear procedures are widely used, although they should only be applied in direct connection with clinical cardiology. The new lead methods of the ecg, such as ecg-mapping, show that standard electrocardiography of electrical functions is not yet fully exploited. The rapidly developing method of computer tomography is also being applied to cardiology. Since nuclear magnetic resonance requires extensive equipment con struction, its future is as yet unsure. Of course, a book like this does not intend to treat the subject of noninvasive cardiology in extensive detail. Established methods like standard electrocardio graphy, phonocardiography and sphygmography are not discussed. The aim of this book is rather to demonstrate the trend of present developments in the field. LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS Ameling, W., Rogowski-Institut fUr Elektronik, Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule, Goethestrasse 27/29, D-5100 Aachen, FRG. Bachmann, K., Medizinische Poliklinik, Universitat Eriangen-NUrnberg, Ostliche Stadtmauerstrasse 29, D-8520 Erlangen, FRG."