Cardiac multi-detector CT: Its unique contribution to cardiology practice

• Published in: International journal of cardiology 2009-02, Vol.132 (1), p.25-29
• Main Authors: Zidan, Mamdouh, Nicoll, Rachel, Schmermund, Axel, Henein, Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arterial wall disease; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Calcinosis - complications; Calcinosis - diagnosis; Calcinosis - diagnostic imaging; Cardiology - trends; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnosis; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Artery Disease - etiology; Coronary calcification; Coronary heart disease; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Heart; Humans; Medical sciences; Multislice coronary CT; Practice Patterns, Physicians' - trends; Risk Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - trends
• ISSN: 0167-5273; 1874-1754; 1874-1754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2008.08.028

Abstract Medical practice is moving fast towards non-invasive and non-surgical disease management. While significant progress has been made with coronary artery disease prevention, MDCT stands as an ideal non-invasive tool for its progression. It accurately assesses both arterial lumen and wall disease. Although the main concern of current cardiology practice is the coronary stenotic disease, arterial wall calcification itself may significantly contribute to patients' symptoms. Thus, in addition to the beneficial use of MDCT in patients with mild to moderate risk for coronary disease, the unique information it provides on wall disease may assist the management of symptomatic patients with no flow-limiting lesions.