Sophisticated computer tomograpy (CT) may help cardiologists more quickly decide which patients can skip invasive heart procedures.
A study by an international team of cardiac imaging specialists, led by researchers at Johns Hopkins, concludes that CT scans of the heart and surrounding arteries are almost as reliable and accurate as more invasive procedures to visually check for blockages.
“This study is the first step to realizing the full potential of CT imaging in predicting coronary artery disease, and these scans complement the arsenal of diagnostic tests available to physicians to prevent heart attacks,” said cardiologist Dr. Julie Miller who led the study at Johns Hopkins.
The study also showed that early detection with newer 64-CT scans is a good predictor of who will need angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery to open up new blood supply routes to the heart. Studies suggest that as much as 25 percent of the 1.3 million cardiac catheterizations performed each year in the United States may be unnecessary.
The article also showed that on average, 91 percent of patients with blockages were detected by 64-CT and that the scans were able to diagnose 83 percent of patients without blockages. This reliability, researchers said, allows them to accurately identify patients who need angioplasty or bypass surgery. More than a quarter million Americans undergo coronary bypass surgery each year.
