Cardiac Imaging

Spectrum Medical Imaging offers a range of cardiac imaging available at our Alexandria, Bankstown, Liverpool, Miranda and Randwick practices.

Our practices are equipped with state-of-the-art digital equipment including 1.5T MRI, 3T MRI, The Revolution CT scanner with cardiac capability and ultrasound.

Spectrum also has a team of subspecialist Cardiac Radiologists and Cardiologists who are trained in cardiovascular imaging interpretation.

Calcium Score

The coronary artery calcium score is a measurement of the amount of calcium in the walls of the arteries that supply your heart muscle, using a special computed tomography (CT) scan of your heart. It shows the amount of hardening of the artery wall (a disease called atherosclerosis) that you have. It tells you about your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

CT Coronary Angiogram (CTCA)

CTCA uses a CT scanner to take images of the arteries in the heart allowing for the diagnosis of diseases within the vessels.

Liquid contrast agents are injected into a vein which increases the density of the blood in the vessels and allows the inside and outside structure of blood vessels to be clearly visible on the CT Cardiac images.

Medication to reduce blood flow and slow down the heart rate might also be given to make the images even clearer and easier to interpret. This will either be given in tablet form or into a vein through a cannula.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI uses a high-strength magnet and radio waves to scan the body and produce images or pictures. MRI does not use ionising radiation, which is required for many other types of imaging, and is not known to have any long-term harmful effects. Cardiac MRI is imaging relating to the heart and how it is working.

TAVI Workup CT Angiography

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is a minimally invasive treatment for severe aortic stenosis. Instead of open-heart surgery, the new valve is delivered on a catheter — most commonly through the femoral artery — and implanted inside the diseased valve while the heart is still beating.

Every successful TAVI begins with imaging. Spectrum Medical Imaging is one of Sydney’s principal sites for TAVI workup CT angiography: a dedicated, ECG-gated study of the aortic valve and aortic root, acquired together with the complete thoracic and abdominal aorta and the ilio-femoral access vessels in a single examination.

Our dedicated cardiac radiologists and cardiologists have the specialised skills to evaluate the aortic valve prior to valve replacement. Working on advanced 3D workstations, they measure the aortic annulus, assess valve morphology and calcification, coronary ostial heights and sinus dimensions, and evaluate the vascular access route — the precise measurements the structural heart team relies on to select the correct valve type and size and to plan the safest approach for each patient.

For referrers: TAVI workup reports are structured around the requirements of structural heart teams, and imaging is available for multidisciplinary team review through the InteleConnect portal.

*Please follow preparation instructions as advised by our staff at the time of scheduling your appointment.