Cardiac imaging means scans that show the heart’s muscle, valves and arteries. The main types are an echocardiogram (ultrasound), a CT coronary angiogram and cardiac MRI. Dr Navin Chandra, consultant cardiologist, chooses the scan that fits your question and explains what it shows. He sees patients at four hospitals in Ascot, Slough, Windsor and Wexham.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who is it for? | People with heart symptoms, a known heart condition or a procedure to plan |
| Which scans are used? | Echocardiogram (including stress echo), CT coronary angiogram and cardiac MRI |
| How long does a scan take? | Echo around 30 to 40 minutes, CT 10 to 20 minutes, MRI 15 minutes to an hour |
| Is there any radiation? | CT uses X-rays. Echo uses sound waves, and MRI uses magnets and radio waves |
| Do I need to prepare? | It depends on the scan. You receive instructions beforehand |
| How do I book? | Call 020 7099 9685 or use the online booking form |
What Is Cardiac Imaging?
Cardiac imaging is a set of tests that take pictures of the heart. An echocardiogram uses sound waves, CT uses X-rays and MRI uses a magnet with radio waves. Each one answers a slightly different question. The NHS describes the most common scan on its echocardiogram guide.
Dr Chandra is an interventional cardiologist who uses imaging to guide treatment as well as diagnosis. He arranges and reviews each scan alongside your symptoms and examination, so the result leads to a clear next step.
Sudden Breathlessness or Chest Pain While Waiting for a Scan: Get Urgent Help
A booked scan is planned care, not emergency care. If any of these happen before your appointment, act at once.
| Your symptom | What it may mean | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Chest pain or pressure that does not go away, or spreads to an arm, the neck, jaw or back | A possible heart attack | Call 999 |
| Severe difficulty breathing, gasping or being unable to get words out | A medical emergency | Call 999 or go to A&E |
| A pounding or racing heartbeat that will not settle, with chest pain or feeling faint | A possible rhythm problem | Call 999 or go to A&E |
| Wheezing, a rash or trouble swallowing after a dye injection | A possible reaction to contrast | Tell the radiographer at once. After you leave, call 999 if breathing gets hard |
Rather than driving to A&E yourself, have a friend or relative take you, or phone 999 for an ambulance. For urgent problems that are not emergencies, NHS 111 can help by phone or online.
Heart Problems a Scan Can Show
Between them, the scans can pick up:
- Weak pumping: how strongly the heart muscle squeezes, for example after a heart attack or in heart failure.
- Valve narrowing or leaks: how well each valve opens and closes, and how blood flows through it.
- Narrowed coronary arteries: fatty deposits (plaques) in the arteries that supply the heart muscle.
- Heart muscle disease: conditions such as cardiomyopathy, or scarring after a heart attack.
- Planning a procedure: measuring a valve or checking arteries before a stent or valve treatment.
Echo, CT or MRI: Imaging Options for Different Heart Questions
Each option below covers what it is, what it suits, its main limit and how long it takes.
Echocardiogram
An echo is an ultrasound of the heart, done with gel and a probe on your chest. It suits questions about pumping and the valves, and is often the first scan. Some people need a contrast injection to make the picture clearer. A typical scan lasts 30 to 40 minutes (NHS).
Stress Echocardiogram
This is an echo taken while your heart works harder, using a treadmill, an exercise bike or a medicine into a vein that mimics exercise. It suits chest symptoms that come on with effort. A second scan follows the exercise, so the visit takes longer.
CT Coronary Angiogram
This scan uses X-rays and a dye in a vein to show the coronary arteries. For chest pain that could be angina, NICE guidance (CG95) advises offering it after a clinical assessment. It involves some radiation, and the dye does not suit everyone. Time on the scanner is usually 10 to 20 minutes.
Cardiac MRI
A cardiac MRI scanner builds pictures with a powerful magnet and radio waves, inside a short tunnel open at both ends. It suits detailed questions about the heart muscle, such as cardiomyopathy or damage after a heart attack. Metal implants must be checked first, and the noise bothers some people. The NHS gives 15 minutes to an hour, and the BHF says up to 90 minutes.
For a side-by-side comparison, see the practice article on cardiac MRI vs echo.
Why Patients Choose Dr Chandra for Heart Imaging
- One consultant, the whole picture: Dr Chandra reviews your scan with your symptoms and examination.
- Scans tied to treatment: he carries out PCI, TAVI and pacemaker implantation himself.
- NHS consultant: he works for Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and holds an honorary post at Royal Brompton and Harefield.
Training and roles:
- Qualified at Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ in 2004, then completed an MD (Res) research degree in 2014
- Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
- BCIS International Fellowship in Canada after interventional training
Radiation, Contrast Dye and Metal Implants: Safety Checks Before a Scan
Every scan starts with a short safety check, which depends on the type of scan.
- Radiation from CT: the BHF calls the dose from a heart CT low, close to a year of natural background radiation.
- Contrast dye: tell the team about kidney or thyroid problems, diabetes, asthma, allergies or an earlier reaction to dye.
- Metal and implants: before MRI, staff ask about pacemakers, defibrillators, stents, surgical clips and other metal parts.
- Pregnancy: mention a possible pregnancy, as CT is avoided in pregnancy.
- Feeling closed in: ask about a medicine to help you relax if small spaces worry you.
After a dye injection, you may wait up to 30 minutes so staff can watch for a reaction. The BHF lists no risks or side effects for a standard echo.
How Imaging Guides Stent and Valve Planning
Before TAVI, an echo shows how the aortic valve is working. A CT scan then measures the valve’s size and shape so the new valve can be planned.
For narrowed arteries, a CT coronary angiogram shows where plaque sits without a tube entering the body. A traditional angiogram passes a thin tube through the wrist or groin. If treatment is needed, the next steps are on the percutaneous coronary intervention and TAVI pages.
What to Expect at Your Scan Appointment
- Consultation first: your opening appointment runs for up to 30 minutes, covering symptoms, history and an examination.
- Choosing the scan: Dr Chandra explains which scan answers your question, and why.
- Preparation: you receive instructions for that scan. A heart CT may mean no caffeine and no food for several hours.
- On the day: bring your medicines list and earlier scan reports, and wear clothes without metal.
- Results: the images are studied in detail. Dr Chandra then goes through the findings with you at a follow-up.
He explains the benefits, limits and alternatives before you agree. The article on how long a cardiac MRI takes covers timings in more depth.
Where Dr Chandra Arranges Cardiac Imaging
Dr Chandra sees patients at four hospital sites across East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire. The practice confirms where your scan takes place when you book.
| Clinic | Address |
|---|---|
| The Parkside Suite, Heatherwood Hospital | Brook Ave, Ascot SL5 7GB |
| The Parkside Suite, Wexham Park Hospital | Wexham, Slough, Berkshire SL2 4HL |
| BMI Princess Margaret Hospital | Osborne Road, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 3SJ |
| Spire Thames Valley Hospital | Wexham Street, Wexham, Buckinghamshire SL3 6NH |
Clinic days vary, so contact the practice to check them. Out of hours, NHS 111 can advise.
Cardiac Imaging Fees and Insurance
No prices are listed online. Prices for 2026 are quoted when you book.
| Appointment | Fee |
|---|---|
| Consultation with Dr Chandra | Quoted when you book |
| Echocardiogram or stress echo | Quoted when you book |
| CT coronary angiogram | Quoted when you book |
| Cardiac MRI | Quoted when you book |
- Paying for yourself: ask for a quote covering the consultation and the scan.
- Using insurance: Dr Chandra works with most major UK insurers, among them Bupa, AXA Health, WPA, Aviva, Vitality, Cigna and Healix. Ask your insurer what the policy pays for, and whether the scan needs approving in advance.
FAQs About Cardiac Imaging
Is an MRI or a CT scan better for the heart?
Neither is better overall, because they answer different questions. CT shows narrowing in the heart arteries and suits possible angina. MRI looks closely at the heart muscle and any scarring.
Will a heart MRI pick up blocked arteries?
It can show parts of the heart muscle that receive less blood, especially during a stress MRI. To see the arteries themselves, a CT coronary angiogram is the usual test. The practice article on why cardiac MRI is done explains more.
Does a cardiac MRI need contrast dye?
Often it does. A dye injected into an arm vein makes blood flow show up more clearly. Side effects are usually mild, such as a headache or a metal taste. Mention any kidney problems first.
How much radiation does a heart CT scan use?
The British Heart Foundation describes it as a low dose, roughly what a person absorbs from natural background radiation over twelve months. Even so, CT is only used when needed, after weighing risk against benefit.
Will I feel claustrophobic in the scanner?
A CT scanner is a large ring that moves around you, not a tunnel. MRI uses a short tunnel that is open at both ends. If small spaces worry you, ask about a medicine to help you relax.
How long do scan results take?
The images are studied in detail after the appointment, not on the spot. Dr Chandra then explains the findings at a follow-up visit. Timing varies by scan and hospital, so the practice tells you what to expect.
Is MRI possible if I have a pacemaker?
Often, yes. According to the British Heart Foundation, most people with a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator can be scanned. The device needs checking first, so mention any implant when you book.
Do I need to stop eating or drinking before a scan?
That varies. Before a standard echo, normal meals and drinks are usually fine. A heart CT may mean avoiding caffeine and food for several hours. You receive clear instructions before your appointment.
Can an echocardiogram show heart failure?
Yes. An echo is one of the main ways to check, because it measures the heart’s pumping strength and valve function. The NHS lists heart failure and valve disease among its uses.
Do I need a referral for a private heart scan?
You can contact the practice directly to book a consultation. Insured patients should speak to their insurer beforehand, since approval may be required. Dr Chandra then agrees with you which scan, if any, is needed.
Book a Cardiac Imaging Consultation with Dr Navin Chandra
To discuss a heart scan, contact the practice:
- Phone: 020 7099 9685
- Email: enquiries@navinchandra.co.uk
- Online: use the appointment form to ask for an in-person or video visit. Send any questions first using the contact form.
New to heart scans? Read what is a cardiac imaging test or how cardiac MRI works. With no symptoms, heart screening may suit you better. For pain that comes and goes, see chest pain.
If chest pain will not ease, phone 999 rather than waiting for an appointment. NHS 111 is there for urgent questions that are not life-threatening.