title: Assessment of cardiac function by electron-beam computed tomography.
abstract: The measurement of parameters relating to the assessment of cardiac function and morphology are critically important prognostic determinates in patients with known or suspected cardiac disease, such as coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. Similarly, the measurement of indices, such as ejection fraction and myocardial mass, are key in assessing the efficacy of therapy in patients with valvular, coronary artery and intrinsic myocardial diseases. Electron-beam computed tomography has been proven to be a reliable and accurate modality for measuring a host of parameters relating to cardiac function. This article reviews the unique technologic design of the electron-beam computed tomography scanner and specifically addresses how this technology has enabled electron-beam computed tomography to become the gold standard for the quantification of cardiac function.
authors.affiliation: University of Iowa, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. brad-thompson@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Brad H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stanford
mesh_terms: D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006334:Heart Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed