CMAJ • June 5, 2007; 176 (12). doi:10.1503/cmaj.1060155.
© 2007 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors
All editorial matter in CMAJ represents the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Canadian Medical Association.
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Letters

Cardiovascular imaging techniques

Massimo De Filippo and Maurizio Zompatori

Department of Clinical Science, Section of Radiological Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

I read with interest Esteban Escolar and colleagues' article on new tomographic cardiovascular imaging techniques.1 In my opinion, the greatest diagnostic advantage of multiple-slice spiral computed tomography (CT) angiography is in investigations of patients at high risk of coronary artery disease, contrary to the view of the authors. They do not point out the excessive radiation dosage to which the patient is exposed by multiple-slice spiral CT angiography: a scan requires a minimum of 850 mA of current and the radiation dose varies from 18 mSv to 22 mSv.2 Are we sure that conventional noninvasive cardiac tests (such as dobutamine stress echography) are not adequate to identify myocardial ischemia in patients at low risk of coronary artery disease? What are the advantages of using coronary CT angiography for such patients, usually aged 45 years or younger, and exposing them to excessive radiation?

REFERENCES

  1. Escolar E, Weigold G, Fuisz A, et al. New imaging techniques for diagnosing coronary artery disease. CMAJ 2006;174(4):487-95.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. Budoff MJ, Cohen MC, Garcia MJ, et al. ACCF/AHA clinical competence statement on cardiac imaging with computed tomography and magnetic resonance. Circulation 2005;112(4):598-617.[Free Full Text]




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