What
is Coronary Artery Disease?
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in the
United States. The coronary arteries supply the heart with
oxygen-rich blood. As the arteries become narrow, there is
less blood and oxygen which can flow to the heart. This is
what we refer to as CAD. Most cases result from
atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in which fatty
deposits, called plaques, accumulate in the coronary
arteries. CAD is associated with calcification in the blood
vessels supplying the heart. What
is Coronary Screening (Heart CT)?
The Heart CT Scan is a very sensitive exam to detect the presence
of calcium and, thus, coronary artery disease at an early stage,
before patients develop clinical manifestations of the disease
such as chest pain and heart attack. The more calcium that
is found, the more atherosclerosis disease there is in the
coronary arteries. Is
this test for you?
SDI Radiologists value the appropriate use of medical
testing. This test is not for everyone. But, if you
are male, age 35-70, or female, age 40-70, with any of the
following risk factors, the Heart CT Score may provide valuable
information to your physician about your heart health:
- Family history of heart
disease
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Overweight
If you are currently under
a physician's care for a cardiac-related illness or have a history
of coronary artery disease, this test may not be right for
you. If you are unsure, talk with your physician.
How is the test done?
When you come for your Heart CT Score, there are no needles, dyes,
incisions, or liquids to swallow. You simply put on a gown
and have four EKG sensors placed on your chest. Then you lay
down on the CT Scanner. During the
test, you hold your breath for approximately 20 seconds.
When it is determined that the images are satisfactory, the exam
is over. The radiologist examines each of the images,
carefully circling any areas of calcification. A computer
calculates the quantity of calcium present. The radiologist
then uses this number to give the test result a "score". What
if the test shows Coronary Artery Calcification?
A detailed report of your scan and score, indicating your risk of
heart problems, will be sent to your physician. The test
results will guide your doctor in determining the proper course of
treatment including diet, medication or further testing.
Note that the plaque forming process can be decreased, stabilized
or reversed, in some cases, through lifestyle modification and/or
medication. How
do I make an appointment?
You should have a referral from your physician for the Heart CT
Score. Once you have this referral, please call (813)
353-XRAY to schedule an appointment. References Wexler
L., Brundage B., Crouse J., Detrano, R. et al. Coronary
artery calcification: pathophysiology, epidemiology, imaging
methods, and clinical interpretations. A statement for
health professionals from the American Heart Association.
Circulation 1996; 94:1175-1192. Rumberger
JA, Brundage BH, Rader DJ, Kondos G. Electron beam computed
tomographic coronary calcium scanning: a review and guidelines for
use in asymptomatic persons. Mayo Clin. Proc. 1999;
74:243-252. Carr J,
Crouse J, Goff D, et al. Evaluation of Subsecond Gated
Helical CT for Quantification of Coronary Artery Calcium and
Comparison with Electron Beam CT. American Journal of
Roentgenology 2000; 174:915-921.
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No identifiable plaque.
Definite plaque burden.
Extensive artherosclerotic
plaque burden.
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