title: Computed tomographic angiography: more than just a pretty picture?
abstract: There is increased interest in and use of cardiac computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging as the technology continues to improve. We have many small single-center trials on the diagnostic accuracy of these techniques, but no studies that show a patient benefit from testing. The American College of Cardiology has recently tackled the "appropriateness challenge" for imaging tests, including computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging. The importance of outcomes data and risks of continuing our investment in computed tomography without outcomes data on benefits for patient care are discussed in this paper.
authors.affiliation: Women's Cardiovascular Services, School of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, San Francisco, California 94143-0124, USA. redberg@medicine.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Rita F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Redberg
mesh_terms: D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*