CAT SCANS

CAT stands for computed axial tomography. These scans are also known as CT scans. These scans use X-rays to make detailed anatomic images of the body. They are far more detailed and accurate than a standard x-ray.

The test involves lying on a table which slides through a giant "donut." Sometimes, the patient has to drink or receive an intravenous injection of a "contrast agent." This adds more detail and information to the pictures. An advance in CT scan technology has resluted in the development of the spiral or helical or multidetector CT scanner that produces much more detailed pictures and allows three dimensional reconstruction of the two dimensional images.

In cardiology, we use CT scans to diagnose diseases of the aorta (the main blood vessel that delivers blood all over our bodies), diseases of the pericardium (the tissue that lines the outside of the heart), detect blood clots in the blood vessels that go to the lungs (pulmonary embolus) and detect growths or tumors in the chest that may be involving the heart.

The newest generation of CT scanners seem to do a good job of noninvasively visulaizing the coronary arteries. However, they are not yet at the point where they can replace coronary angiography.

Related topic: Coronary Artery Calcium Scan

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