Which of the following is an indication for cardiac catheterization?

• A. Congenital heart disease
• B. Arrhythmia
• C. Hypothyroidism
• D. Arthritis

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that catheterization is most clearly indicated when you need precise, direct information about the heart’s structure and pressures to plan treatment. Congenital heart disease often requires cardiac catheterization to define complex anatomy, measure intracardiac pressures and oxygen saturations, quantify shunts, and guide or plan surgical or interventional steps. This procedure can also enable targeted interventions for certain defects.

In contrast, evaluating an arrhythmia is usually done with an electrophysiology study and ablation rather than routine catheter-based diagnostic workup, and hypothyroidism or arthritis do not involve heart catheterization as a typical or direct diagnostic or therapeutic step.