Salem Radiologists at Salem Regional Medical Center

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3D Cardiac CT (Heart Examination)

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Click to Read More: MD News Interview Patient Brochure Cardiac CT presentation (2MB)

Coronary or Cardiac CT Angiography (CCTA) is the latest non-invasive CT technology to assist in diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with strong risk factors.

Salem Regional Medical Center has the fastest scanner between Cleveland and Pittsburgh with Dual-128 technology which can perform the CCTA in as quick as a quarter of a heart-beat in many patients providing the sharpest and highest resolution images available. Our new CT technology also allows for imaging of all parts of the body in less time, with much lower radiation dose, and with less radiographic contrast than older 64-detector CT scanner technology. Click HERE to read more about Dual-128 CT…

Cardiac CT Angiography allows for the direct visualization of the coronary arteries to identify narrowing and characterize plaques. In the past, physicians had to rely on signs and symptoms of active myocardial ischemia or infarction to justify invasive cardiac catheterization. Other noninvasive exams like the Stress Test and Nuclear SPECT Scan show abnormalities only with significant narrowing of the coronary arteries.

The new Cardiac CT exam can demonstrate lipid-laden Vulnerable Plaques which are thought to lead to 70% of heart attacks. Ongoing studies are suggesting that patients with these plaques may benefit from aggressive Statin therapy to reduce plaque burden and cardiac risk (JAMA 2007; 297(5):499-508). Click HERE to read the medical article about statins and HDL.

What can 3D CT Cardiac Angiography show? Detailed images of coronary arteries including lipid-laden plaques and calcium deposition. Views of entire bypass grafts, insertion sites, and distal flow. Inside existing coronary stents. Detailed motion views of the cardiac values, muscle and left ventricular function.

About the exam: No special pre-procedure preparation Observation by cardiac nurse. Some patients with heart rates above 70-80 will need a beta-blocker medicine to slow the heart. This is given during the examination by iv and works quickly usually without symptoms. Most patients do not need medication. The patient may need a ride home, however. Time in CT Room: 5-15 minutes. Post monitoring time (if medications given) 30 minutes.

	This is a 3D rendering of the heart showing the coronary arteries. CT Time: 1/4^th second. Radiation dose less than 2 mSv with the Dual-128 CT Scanner.
	These are images of LAD (left anterior descending) artery in a patient with normal blood flow, no calcified or non-calcified plaques. Calcium score is 0.
	This is a LIMA (left internal mammary artery) bypass graft in this patient with quadruple bypass. The graft is open.

This is the aortic valve opened, closed, and from the side. The 3D Cardiac CT shows full motion of the heart valves and heart muscle including artificial values. The areas around the heart are also seen to help identify aneurysms and early lung cancers.