CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA)

Submitted by Dr T on May 22, 2010 – 8:20am

CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA) has become a valuable new tool in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) as reported in a new study (read my comments). CT or CAT scans have been around for a long time but were not capable of providing useful images of of small moving structures such as coronary arteries. Now that new technology is available, CTCA can be used quickly and at a much lower cost, particularly in patients where the diagnosis is uncertain.

CTCA will be particularly useful to Family and ER Doctors in patients where the diagnosis of Angina Pectoris and CAD is suspected but not confirmed with other tests.
Given the high percentage of unnecessary cardiac catherizations performed yearly, it will provide doctors with another screening tool to either identify or eliminate patients for further testing and (expensive) consultations with cardiac specialists,

Please let me know what you think,