Running diagnostic tests to treat chronic heart failure, myocardial blood flow, and even congenital heart disease is key to maintaining awareness of potential health problems. The American Heart Association recognizes that there are two major techniques used to analyze heart function: cardiac CTs and MRIs. State-of-the-art heart diagnostic technology can yield higher-quality scan images.
This guide will walk you through the considerations for using both CT angiography and MRIs as the gold standard for cardiovascular imaging.
Cardiac CT Scans & MRI: A Quick Look at How They Work
When it comes to your heart health, there is more than one way to see the inner workings of this all-important muscle. Both CT scans and MRIs are important forms of heart diagnostic technology with significant differences in how they function.
A CT scan (short for computed tomography) permits your doctor to take multiple X-rays of the heart muscle. Combined, your cardiologist can put together a three-dimensional image of your organs.
On the other hand, an MRI (short for magnetic resonance imaging) also provides a clear look at your blood vessel structure and heart health. It utilizes magnetic fields and radio waves to create a picture of your heart.
Handling Coronary Artery Disease with CT Scans
Before any decisions can be made regarding the next steps for your heart health in light of any type of coronary artery disease, there must be comprehensive imaging.
This permits doctors to get a clearer picture of heart health before drastic actions like cardiac catheterization. Any invasive procedure should come after robust imaging. (You can learn more about the groundbreaking technology with computed tomography that we use here).
To this end, the American Heart Association indicates that a cardiac CT scan is the preferred test when assessing cardiovascular disease. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of coronary artery disease, a CT scan may be the best option for you.
According to the American Heart Association, these symptoms can include:
- Angina (chest pain and discomfort)
- Weakness or lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Cold sweat
- Shortness of breath
Lacking an accurate diagnosis, conditions involving the heart can pose serious health risks. Siemens Healthineers’ dual-source CT offers an advanced imaging solution that can assist healthcare professionals in assessing heart health more comprehensively. This technology helps in providing detailed images, which can be crucial for informing treatment decisions.
Dual-source CT offers an advanced look at heart disease. It utilizes two data measurement systems, each composed of an X-ray tube and a detector array. This diagnostic technology enables providers to acquire images faster, while minimizing the amount of radiation required.
Concern regarding congenital heart disease in juvenile patients is often assessed using this dual-source CT scan. Especially in newborns, MRI may not present the clearest images of the heart muscle.
Photon-counting CT scans, like those performed with the NAEOTOM Alpha CT, can enhance patient comfort by reducing scan times. In procedures such as coronary angiography or CT angiography, this technology contributes to the detailed visualization of heart chambers. This detail supports a thorough evaluation, which is crucial in planning medical treatments.
MRIs for Diagnosing Other Heart Conditions
Cardiac MRI holds a valuable position in heart diagnostic technology, offering detailed insights into coronary stenosis. With the increasing prevalence of heart disease and advancements in treatment, the need for comprehensive diagnostic tools is more important than ever. While blood tests provide essential initial data, MRIs play a crucial role in completing the diagnostic picture and guiding providers toward effective treatment pathways.
These diagnostic tests allow a care team to examine this all-important organ, monitoring how it pumps blood to the body. It also can take electrical signals into consideration, which could point to chronic heart failure.
The images associated with cardiac MRIs can also pinpoint ischemic heart disease with the differences in myocardial wall function. In this patient population, MRIs can make a major difference in patient outcomes, taking a closer look at the main heart artery systems.
So, what does an MRI show when it comes to cardiovascular imaging?
In the cardiac patient population, it can be used to assess scarring after heart attacks, infection, inflammation, and limited blood flow to crucial parts of the heart. Not to mention, it can look at surrounding areas of the heart artery system to examine long-term effects.
It can represent the highest benchmark of care for non-invasive cardiac imaging technology. It should be used before performing procedures like the robotic-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or an angioplasty with a stent for coronary artery disease.
Cardiac MRIs can also help with risk stratification to pinpoint coronary artery stenosis, ischemic heart disease, or aortic stenosis.
Heart Diagnostic Technology for Coronary Artery Disease at Centella
It’s important to note that both cardiac CTs and MRIs are evidence-based for the best outcomes when it comes to your heart health. They both have a role to play in predicting patient outcomes and assessing risk stratification.
Centella features the Siemens Healthineers technologies that you need if you are looking for state-of-the-art technology to assess the long-term impact of coronary artery disease. We provide equipment to evaluate everything from ischemic heart disease to congenital heart disease for every unique application. With an unprecedented availability of technologies, we’re here to assist in the fight against heart disease. Reach out to us today for more information.
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