Ultrafast Computed Tomography Scan

Overview

What is an Ultrafast Computed Tomography Scan (CT Scan)?

In conventional x-rays, a beam of energy is aimed at the part of the body being studied. A plate behind the body part captures the variations of the energy beam after it passes through skin, bone, muscle, and other tissue. While much information can be obtained from a regular x-ray, a lot of detail about internal organs and other structures is not available.

During a computed tomography scan (or CT scan), the x-ray beam moves in a circle around the body. This allows many different views of the same organ or structure, and provides much greater detail. The x-ray information is sent to a computer which interprets the x-ray data and displays it in 2-dimensional form on a monitor. While many images are taken during a CT scan, less radiation is received by the patient than during a single standard x-ray in many cases.

A new technology, called ultrafast CT scan, is now being used to diagnose heart disease. Ultrafast CT scans can take multiple images of the heart within the time of a single heartbeat, thus providing much more detail about the heart's function and structures, and also greatly decreasing the amount of time required for a study. Ultrafast CT scans can detect very small amounts of calcium within the heart and the coronary arteries. This calcium has been shown to indicate that lesions that may eventually block off one or more coronary arteries and cause chest pain or even a heart attack are in the beginning stages of formation. Thus, ultrafast CT scanning is being used by many physicians as a means to diagnose early coronary artery disease in certain people, especially individuals who have no symptoms of the disease.

Ultrafast CT scans may be done with or without contrast. "Contrast" refers to a substance taken by mouth or injected into an intravenous line that causes the particular organ or tissue being studied to be seen more clearly. If your physician schedules you for an ultrafast CT scan of the heart, you may need to be NPO (fasting, or nothing by mouth) for four hours prior to the procedure if contrast dye will be used. Your physician will provide specific instructions.

You will need to let your physician know if you have ever had a reaction to any contrast dye, or if you are allergic to iodine or seafood. If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, you should notify your physician.

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