What is a common use of ultrasound in cardiology?

Echocardiography is a pivotal application of ultrasound in cardiology. It allows for real-time imaging of the heart’s structure and function. By using high-frequency sound waves, echocardiography provides detailed information about the heart's chambers, valves, and blood flow, enabling the assessment of various cardiac conditions such as valvular heart disease, heart failure, and congenital heart defects.

This non-invasive imaging technique is essential for diagnosing and monitoring heart diseases. It can evaluate wall motion abnormalities, calculate ejection fraction, and visualize blood flow using Doppler ultrasound, making it a cornerstone tool in cardiology for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

In contrast, the other modalities mentioned, such as radiography, CT angiography, and pulse wave analysis, either do not primarily utilize ultrasound technology or serve distinct purposes outside the typical scope of echocardiography in evaluating cardiac function and anatomy.