How is the CT scan different from other imaging exams?
Cardiac CT scans produce high-resolution images of the arteries, chambers and valves of the heart. Unlike other methods used to detect coronary disease, cardiac CT provides direct visualization of the entire system of coronary arteries, and can detect coronary disease whether or not a blockage is present. Other methods use an indirect means to determine whether or not coronary blockage is present, and therefore, cannot detect the early disease before symptoms occur. Surprisingly, most heart attacks arise from coronary disease lesions that do not block the artery.
