Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, laboratory diagnostics, and obligatory medical device diagnostics – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- Abdominal ultrasonography (ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs) – for basic diagnostics.
- X-rays of paranasal sinuses
- X-ray of the thorax (X-ray thorax/chest), in two planes.
- Computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging of the skull (cranial CT or.cCT/cranial MRI or cMRI) – for further diagnosis.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG; recording of the electrical activities of the heart muscle).
- Echocardiography (echo; heart ultrasound) – for suspected structural heart disease.
- Coronary angiography (radiological procedure that uses contrast agents to visualize the lumen (interior) of the coronary arteries (arteries that surround the heart in a wreath shape and supply the heart muscle with blood)).
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – to assess parenchymal damage – and MR angiography (MRA) – to assess the vessels, if necessary.
- Digital subtraction angiography (DSA); Procedure: A mask is taken beforehand, which means that a native X-ray image of the area to be examined is taken without contrast medium. Subsequently, the image is acquired with contrast medium. All structures that can be seen on the mask are now subtracted from the contrast image, so that only the vessels are visible – in the case of unclear findings of MRI and MR angiography (MRA).
- Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT; combined nuclear medicine (PET) and radiological (CT) imaging procedure in which the distribution pattern of radioactive substances (tracers) can be localized very precisely with the aid of cross-sectional imaging) – in the case of unclear findings of MRI and MR angiography (MRA) [alternative to DSA].
For specific notes on medical device diagnostics, see under the corresponding disease.
