title: Imaging in pulmonary hypertension.
abstract: Pulmonary hypertension is defined as an increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥25 mm Hg at rest and occurs in a majority of patients with heart failure. Diagnostic imaging targets the right ventricle and the pulmonary vasculature. Although echocardiography is cost-effective for screening and follow-up, right heart catheterization is still mandatory to differentiate pre- from post-capillary disease and to directly measure pressure and flow. An important goal is to rule out chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. This diagnostic step can be achieved by perfusion scintigraphy, whereas computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance have become indispensable ancillary methods for the diagnostic allocation to other World Health Organization subtypes of pulmonary hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. irene.lang@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Irene M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plank
authors.forename: Roela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sadushi-Kolici
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jakowitsch
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Klepetko
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maurer
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right