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Coronary
artery disease is the single largest cause of morbidity
amongst all diseases so much so that it has been classified
as having reached pandemic proportions by none less than the
WHO (World Health Organisation). An increasingly sedentary
lifestyle, changing food habits and a stressful and
competitive lifestyle and work culture have multiplied the
risk factors for coronary artery disease. The need of the
times is a non invasive and outpatient investigation that
accurately diagnoses coronary artery disease. CT coronary
angiography plays this role to perfection
What is CT
coronary angiogram?
A simple non
invasive method to evaluate the status of the coronary
vessels that supply the heart using an ultra fast 64 slice
per rotation Multislice CT scanner.
How is CT
coronary angiogram done?
The patient
is put comfortably on a CT scanner table and a baseline
calcium score is calculated in a matter of seconds.
Following this contrast is injected in one of the peripheral
veins with online ECG monitoring. All the images required
for a CT coronary angiogram are obtained in one single
breath hold within 5 seconds. Subsequently processed,
reformatted, analyzed and evaluated on a workstation. The
inferences deduced provide the radiologist an accurate
picture of the heart and the coronary vessels that supply
it. The arteries are evaluated for narrowing, blockage,
presence of different varities of plaque ( stable/
unstable.. the rupture of which is a common cause of sudden
death). Plaque evaluation also helps in deciding various
modes of therapy. The status of the various chambers of the
heart, cardiac muscle, and the main vessels carrying blood
to and from the heart can also be easily seen. It is an
excellent investigation to evaluate post operative grafts,
stents, and to exclude non cardiac causes of chest pain.
Who should
undergo a CT coronary angiography?
All patients
with high risk factors are potential candidates.
What are the
risk factors?
Patients
having a strong family history of heart disease, diabetics,
heavy smokers, high blood pressure, obesity, high
cholesterol/ triglycerides, alcoholics, and those in high
stress and tension jobs.
Are
angiographies or studies of other organs possible on this
machine?
Absolutely!
A coronary angiogram is technically the most demanding study
on a CT scanner. Compared to this all other studies are
literally a piece of cake. This machine performs all
functions that any other CT scanner does with much more
speed and accuracy.
Any other
features?
- Virtual
colonoscopy ( study of the large intestine ) without
inserting scopes.
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Dentascan – for accurate and correct placements of dental
implants.
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Advanced lung analysis – for evaluation of lung nodules
and parenchyma.
Very useful in follow up of cancer patients. |
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