Ultrafast heart scan

Posted by Doreen on May 26, 1999 at 14:37:08
Hi,
I have submitted questions before about PACs, PATs, PVCs.  My cardiologist thinks it would be a good idea to have the ultrafast heart scan done (in Colorado it would be done at Colo. Heart Imaging).  He doesn't think I have heart disease but thinks the results will subdue my anxiety.  I am a 42-year old female with PACS, PATS, and PVCs and occasional stabs of localized chest pain.  I also have slightly enlarged left atrium (4.4) and slightly elevated right pulmunary pressure (32).  No history of heart disease in parents (who are in their 80s now) or living relatives, but one grandfather died at age 53 of massive coronary.  Last cholesterol was 270 with slightly elevated tri's and LDL, but have been dieting the last 3 months.  My doc says the HDL/LDL ratio is fairly good.  Cholesterol before the last test was usually good.  My question is, how accurate is the ultrafast heart scan for detecting heart disease and do you think it's worth me having the test done at this time?
I appreciate the time you all spend answering questions.
Doreen
Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on May 26, 1999 at 15:32:12
Dear Doreen, thank you for your follow-up question.  I remember answering your previous question.  External Beam CT (EBCT) scanning (also known as ultra-fast CT) is being touted as a marvelous new form of technology to detect coronary artery disease.  EBCT uses calcification of the coronary arteries as a  surrogate marker for coronary disease, but is inaccurate in estimating the severity of a coronary lesion.  At the Cleveland Clinic, we strongly feel that EBCT has no use in the diagnosis of coronary disease and should not be used.  In your case, your symptoms do not suggest coronary disease.  Therefore, EBCT would be an expensive way to determine a clinical opinion that has already been well-formulated.

I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.  Good luck.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.   The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.