uses of cardiac CT
Last reviewed 01/2018
- coronary calcium scoring for suspected coronary artery disease -
nearly all atherosclerotic plaques contain some calcium. Low dose, non-contrast
CT scans of the heart can quantify the amount and distribution of calcium
in the coronary arteries. There is a direct correlation between the extent
of calcium in the coronary arteries and the risk of future cardiac events
- diagnosis and assessment of coronary artery disease - contrast enhanced
CT of the coronary arteries enables visualization of the artery lumen, atherosclerotic
plaques and stenoses.When combined with calcium score, CT coronary angiography
has a very high negative predictive value (approaching 100%) for ruling out
coronary artery disease
- assessment of patency of bypass grafts and anomalous coronary arteries
- CT allows accurate assessment of coronary bypass graft occlusion and patency,
along with evaluation of the course of anomalous coronary arteries
- assessment of left ventricular mass and function - accurate assessment
of stroke volume, ejection fraction and wall motion abnormalities can be obtained
- assessment of cardiac morphology - CT can be used to assess complex congenital heart disease; cardiac masses; thrombus; pericardial disease; pulmonary and aortic pathology
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