Cardiac sonography, also known as echocardiography, uses high-frequency sound waves to create detailed images of the heart’s chambers, valves, walls, and blood vessels. Sonographers in this field operate specialized ultrasound equipment to assess cardiac structure and function in real time, helping physicians diagnose heart disease without radiation or invasive procedures.
Cardiac sonographers perform transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE), stress echocardiograms, and assist with transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE). They evaluate conditions such as aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, pericardial effusion, cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure. Doppler imaging allows measurement of blood flow velocities across valves and assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction.
Most cardiac sonographers pursue the Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) credential through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), or the Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) through CCI. Accredited programs typically combine didactic coursework with clinical rotations in hospital cardiology departments, outpatient echo labs, or cardiovascular imaging centers.