[Coronary artery imaging using cardiac CTA].
For many years noninvasive imaging of the coronary arteries was limited due to cardiac motion and the tortuous course of the arteries through the imaging plane. The introduction of new 16 and 64 detectors (multi-slice) CT scanners allows noninvasive imaging of the coronary arteries as well as the heart and great vessels. Soft atheromatous plaques can be evaluated and arterial stenosis grading is now feasible by "freezing" the heart motion, using ECG gated retrospective reconstructions. In addition, this novel technique can provide data about cardiac function, including heart muscle contractility, perfusion and ejection fraction. The cardiac CTA study, performed during one breath-hold, involves the intravenous injection of non-ionic iodinated contrast medium, and the use of ionizing radiation. Cardiac CT angiography is highly sensitive in the diagnosis of arterial luminal narrowing and stenosis, patency of intravascular stents and is useful in the follow-up of CABG bypass surgery. In addition, it will probably play an important role in evaluating high risk asymptomatic people, as well as patients with unclear cardiac symptoms.
Zeina
Abd-el-Rauf
AE
Department of Radiology, MAR Imaging Institute, Bnai Zion Hospital, Bruce Rappaport Medical Faculty, Technion, Haifa, Israel. raufzeina3@hotmail.com
Barmeir
Elisha
E
Blinder
Jorge
J
Rosenschein
Uri
U
D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods