This article is from the WebMD Feature Archive

Chest pains, heart flutters, heart attack -- they are the signposts of heart troubles. In the past, such symptoms might mean a treadmill stress test or a cardiac catheterization to diagnose the problem.

That's changing with the advent of new imaging technology: CT scans, MRI, 3-dimensional echocardiography (3-D echo), and PET/CT.

"It's a new era … we're at the tipping point right now," says Robert M. Steiner, MD, FACC, director of cardiac and pulmonary imaging at Temple University Health System in Philadelphia.

The traditional stress test shows the heart's function and how it performs under exertion such as walking on a treadmill or pedaling a stationary bike. In cardiac catheterization (cardiac cath), the cardiologist can examine the valves, arteries, and chambers via the use of contrast dye and a catheter inserted into the groin or arm.

But with the new imaging technology, "we can now get much the same information as we could with the [older] tests -- and do it much less invasively," Steiner tells WebMD.

"All these new tests examine function and anatomy beautifully. They are easier to perform, and often less expensive," Steiner says. "And because they are less invasive, they are easier on the patient."