9.1. METHODS OF IMAGING STUDY
Different techniques can be implemented in the imaging study of the heart and thoracic aorta. Each technique has its advantages and disadvantages. The technique is chosen according to certain clinical settings, to resolve particular diagnostic tasks.
9.1.1. Radiological method
The radiologic technique, despite new highly informative ways of receiving medical images, is still widely spread in the examination of the heart and thoracic aorta. However, many of the previously used radiologic techniques are not used any more. Only the simplest, native techniques (radiography, fluoroscopy) and the most complicated, invasive contrast examinations - angiocardiography, coronography and aor-tography have preserved the diagnostic value.
Native radiological methods
Radiography is, as a rule, the primary technique of imaging study of the heart and thoracic aorta. The currently accepted views are frontal and left lateral. Fluoroscopy is used when it is necessary to choose a non-standard optimal view for the study of a particular part of the cardiovascular shadow and for an indicative assessment of the contractile function of the heart and aortic pulsation. In addition, radioscopy has more opportunities to identify calcifications of the heart valves. Native X-ray examination of the thoracic aorta in the absence of CT can be supplemented by linear tomography. Indications for its implementation are the need to clarify the details of the morphological state of the aorta (expansion, narrowing, calcification of the walls, etc.) and the difficulties of differential diagnosis with the pathological processes of other organs of the thoracic cavity, most often with neoplasms of the mediastinum.