Christoph R. Becker, MD

Dual-source or 64-slice CT examination proves quick, noninvasive, and effective in triaging patients with low to moderate risk of heart disease

Increasing efforts to screen and diagnose coronary artery disease have used imaging modalities such as catheter angiography, ultrasound, and MRI. Electron-beam CT was, for a long time, the only CT system able to image the coronary arteries without motion artifacts. But multislice CT has advanced rapidly over the last decade, and state-of-the-art 64-slice and dual-source CT now offer high-quality imaging of the coronary arteries, myocardium, and valves, providing morphological and even functional information.

Dual-source CT represents a significant advance for coronary CT angiography. In our preliminary experience, it has made CTA more robust and provided reliable assessment of vessel wall irregularities and stenoses without motion artifacts. Radiation exposure can be reduced significantly compared with conventional CTA.

New approach increases temporal resolution, improving cardiac image quality while adding dynamic functional information