Axial CT Coronary Angiography
Axial CT coronary angiography is a new and bloodless examination for the examination of the coronary vessels. The examination first appeared with the creation of the sophisticated polytomous CT scanners. The exam is very simple and no preparation is required. Its time duration is approximately 10 minutes and the "slices" are taken by holding a breath for 10-15 seconds.
An intravenous drug is administered to delineate the coronary vessels and the patient can return to his daily activities after the examination. Considering that coronary artery disease is now the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in economically developed countries, it seems that CT angiography is now a routine examination.
Calcium Scoring
The Calcium Scoring measurement measures and evaluates calcium deposition in the coronary vessels of the heart and is an important indicator of the possibility of developing serious heart disease, or even strokes. Calcium deposits in the arteries of the heart are a strong sign that atherosclerotic plaques are likely to also be present within the coronary vessels, capable of leading to heart attack and/or sudden death.
Population groups for which the examination is indicated
- Patients with atypical angina pectoris
- People with high predisposing factors for coronary heart disease
- By-pass patients who will be able to avoid consecutive cardiac catheterizations to check their grafts
The following must be emphasized: people with atypical angina pectoris or with high predisposing factors are a population that does not have diagnosed coronary artery disease. In this population CT coronary angiography functions more as a preventive control (screening) to diagnose a serious condition in time.
Its sensitivity and specificity are quite high and even higher than those of other tests used for preventive screening such as mammography.
It is the safest, painless, bloodless and non-traumatic screening method for all categories of examinees and patients, because it does not show any of the possible complications like classic coronary angiography.
At the same time, it is an extremely simple examination in its execution process and its cost is much lower than that of classic coronary angiography.
In combination with magnetic heart and myocardial scintigraphy, it forms the complete package of monitoring cardiac function.