Technology in cardiovascular imaging continues to evolve rapidly. Along with new technology, new imaging approaches are continuously being developed and evaluated in various clinical settings. The workup of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the major areas in which imaging is applied. Some of the most important aspects include diagnosing CAD through direct coronary visualization or imaging of ischemia; assessing left ventricular function, scar, and viability; and providing prognostic information both in patients with known CAD and in asymptomatic individuals at risk for disease. This article will outline some of the recent developments in the field of echocardiography, nuclear imaging, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), and computed tomography (CT) as they pertain to CAD.
