Plaque Burden is a measure of how much atherosclerotic plaque is present in an artery or vascular territory. It describes overall disease extent rather than a single focal narrowing. It is used in cardiovascular pathology and imaging, especially in coronary artery disease (CAD). It commonly appears in risk stratification, diagnostic interpretation, and longitudinal follow-up.
Coronary Calcium Score is a number derived from a non-contrast, electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated cardiac computed tomography (CT) scan. It estimates the burden of calcified atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary arteries. It is a diagnostic test used for cardiovascular risk stratification rather than for acute diagnosis. It is commonly used in preventive cardiology to refine the likelihood of future coronary artery disease (CAD) events.
Global Longitudinal Strain is a quantitative measure of how much the left ventricular (LV) myocardium shortens from base to apex during systole. It is a functional imaging metric most commonly derived from transthoracic echocardiography using speckle-tracking strain analysis. It complements left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by detecting subtle changes in myocardial performance. It is widely used in cardiology for risk assessment and longitudinal monitoring in selected diseases and therapies.
Strain Imaging measures how much the heart muscle deforms as it contracts and relaxes. It is a cardiac imaging assessment used most often during echocardiography and sometimes with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). It describes myocardial function beyond left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). It is commonly used in heart failure, cardiomyopathies, ischemic heart disease, and cardio-oncology follow-up.
Three Dimensional Echo is an ultrasound-based cardiac imaging technique that captures the heart in three spatial dimensions. It is a diagnostic test used to assess cardiac anatomy and function in real time. It is commonly performed as part of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) or transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). It is widely used in valvular heart disease, structural heart interventions, and complex congenital or postoperative anatomy.
Cardiac Imaging is the use of tests that create pictures or measurements of the heart and great vessels. It is a diagnostic domain focused on cardiac anatomy, function, and blood flow. It is commonly used in emergency care, outpatient cardiology, and perioperative decision-making. It supports evaluation of symptoms, risk assessment, and follow-up of known cardiovascular disease.
Point of Maximal Impulse is the spot on the chest wall where the cardiac impulse is felt most strongly on palpation. It reflects how the heart, especially the left ventricle, contacts and moves the adjacent chest wall during systole. It is a bedside physical examination finding used in cardiology and general medicine. It is commonly assessed during routine cardiovascular exams alongside auscultation, vital signs, and ECG (electrocardiogram) review.
Heave is a palpable lifting movement of the chest wall caused by the beating heart. It is a **clinical sign** assessed during the **cardiovascular physical examination**. It is commonly discussed in relation to **ventricular hypertrophy**, **pressure overload**, and **cardiomegaly**. Heave is most often evaluated by **precordial palpation** at the left sternal border and near the apex beat.
Thrill is a palpable vibration felt on the skin during physical examination. It most often reflects turbulent blood flow in the heart or a large vessel. Thrill is used in bedside diagnosis in cardiology and vascular assessment. It is commonly discussed alongside a murmur (cardiac) or bruit (vascular).
Cardiac Palpation is the use of the examiner’s hands to assess visible or felt movements of the precordium (the front of the chest over the heart). It is a bedside physical examination technique in clinical cardiology and general medicine. It helps estimate cardiac size, position, and hemodynamic effects by feeling impulses, heaves, and thrills. It is commonly used in routine cardiovascular assessment, emergency evaluations, and preoperative examinations.