electron beam ct scan

My old family dr. recommended this for me.  My new family dr. doesn't think they are very good.  The test is supposed to show calcium and plaque buildup in arteries, without having to have the invasive angiogram.  Has anyone had this test, and what do you think about it?  Thanks in advance.

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hi  Tomah,

Good question.   There are groups out there that like electron beam CT scans -- I for one do not.  There is good data to risk stratify people based on CT calcium scoring.   I for one do not believe it adds to a history, physical and stress testing if indicated.  Cardiac catheterizations are very simple procedures with relatively low risks.   CT angiography, which is slightly different than calcium scoring, is gaingin favor, but still lackes large, randomized trials to prove its benefit over standard practice.  I have never ordered an electron beam CT and probably never will.

That is i my 2 cents and I am sure there are people out there that disagree.

I hope this helps.

[line]

Wow, never heard of this test, I did read where there is a new echo that can check the blood vessels for plague. But as far as I know they only have them at leading hospitals.

My husband just had a heart attack 5 weeks ago. he has high b/p controlled by meds, his chol. is always fine, he had a stresss test done one year and passed also a thallium stress about three years ago which was fine. He had a 100% and a 80% blockage, so much for stress tests in my opinion.

Cannot wait to read the reply to this post. Is this something new?

Lina

[tomah]

Here is the link to the ct scan.

http://www.medformation.com/ac/healthhero.nsf/docs/Heart_scans:_Getting_heart_disease_before_it_gets_you

[bama jane]

I have had this test.  It supposedly shows hard plaque but not soft plaque in the arteries. It is a pretty simple test and doctors seem to have different opinions on it. Scripps center for intergrative medicine in La Jolla, Ca.  has one of the newest ones.   It is like taking a virtual tour through the body.  It is quite amazing you can see everything. You can  even see stents that people have previously had put in. I have read that taking this test exposes you to fairly large amounts of radiation so maybe it isn't a test to take on a whim but a good diagnostic tool if there is a good chance you have coronary artery disease.  It is also suppose to show tumors in the body. I have read that the fact that it only shows the hard plaque can lead a person to a sense of false security since soft plaque in the arteries can be just as dangerous. I am not sure if the newest ones show soft plaque as well, maybe someone else knows. I don't think most insurance will pay for this and I believe there is a very big difference in quality of the equipment used.  I saw some advertised at a local mall. I would only use ones at quality medical facilities.

[LacyMary]

What about the NEW Cardiac MRI's.  Has anyone had this?  I had this 8 months ago and having another scheduled again.  I am most interested in the NEW ECHO's that another poster mentioned.  

Cardiolites, Thallium are not fool proof. If one has symptoms and has heart risks,,,the gold standard is a heart cath.  I had follow up with the MRI.  I may also want to add that some docs think it is OK to have an MRI soon after stenting. But, in my humble opinion and after reading much about this. ...waiting 3 months is better unless you absolutely have to have it.  MRI's can cause shifting on the stents, some doctors claim, if MRI is done too soon after stenting.

Eager to hear more.

[blessed09]

I had a CT scan (calcium score) done and scored a 755. Needless to say I was freaked out. Knowing my father passed away of a heart attack at 56, I thought I was surely destined for one. My Cardiologist ordered a Heart catherization and it came back "smooth" arteries and it looked "fantastic" according to the doctor. So now I question, and at times worry, about the CT test. I know there are false/positives in the test, but this can really affect people's lifes. This may be one of the reasons it's not recommended by all doctors. Good news though, since then I lost 45 pounds to date and run three miles a day and eat right got my total chol at 118, LDL=50, HDL=49, Trig=93. So I guess the test did accomplish something. Of course I'd rather have someone call be tubby to motivate me to lose weight rather than hearing you may die of a heart attack at anytime.