Clinical applications and future trends in cardiac CTA

Abstract

The new 64-slice multi-detector computed tomographic scanners with improved temporal and special resolution are well suited to cardiac scanning allowing large area coverage and very short scan time. Current applications include plaque and stenosis assessment, evaluation of bypass graft patency and stenosis, coronary artery anomalies and recently, assessment of implanted coronary stents. Possible fields of utilization include emergency room triage of chest pain, and screening prior to invasive angiography in order to reduce the load of invasive studies. The future holds the prospect of automatic analysis of coronary plaque and luminal stenosis possibly opening up a new vista for non-invasive risk assessment.