Advanced cardiac imaging is helping physicians diagnose heart disease earlier and more accurately at the MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center.
Christina Rodriguez, M.D., Medical Director of Advanced Cardiac Imaging, is a fellowship-trained, board-certified non-invasive cardiologist and one of only two physicians in the Southern Los Angeles and Orange County region specializing in advanced cardiac imaging.
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the heart without ionizing radiation. During the exam, patients lie on a table that moves into the MRI scanner while images are taken of the heart’s structure, function and blood flow. Cardiac MRI can detect heart muscle damage, valve disease, inflammation, congenital heart defects and early signs of coronary artery disease that may not be visible with other imaging tests.
“There are so many different minimally invasive and noninvasive ways to look into the heart,” said Dr. Rodriguez. “I plan to continue bringing new advanced technologies and services to our program to help patients with advanced heart conditions.”
Dr. Rodriguez is also focused on advancing women’s heart health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, and symptoms are often different than in men. Women are also more likely to develop microvascular dysfunction, a disease affecting the heart’s smallest blood vessels that can be difficult to diagnose.
“With the introduction of stress cardiac MRI at Long Beach Medical Center, we will better understand how microvascular dysfunction affects women—it is one of our main focuses in our Women’s Heart Center,” Dr. Rodriguez said.
“First and foremost, I am a cardiologist who happens to be specialized in advanced cardiac imaging,” she added. “All of my specialties are just tools that ultimately help my patients and give them the specialized care they need.”
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