Cardiac CT scan assesses patient’s risk of heart disease

If you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or a family history of heart disease, a quick, painless procedure that helps physicians detect dangerous artery-clogging plaque and the onset of coronary artery disease is now available at The Emory Clinic for just $150.

Hundreds of athletes participating in this year’s ING Georgia Marathon and Peachtree Road Race have already taken advantage of this non-invasive CT heart scan. But you don’t have to be an athlete to sign up for the comprehensive cardiovascular screening that can be a potential lifesaver to just about anyone – from the triathlete to the weekend warrior – who is at risk for a deadly heart attack.

The screenings include a complete heart assessment, which features a coronary artery calcium scoring (CT heart scan), blood pressure, lipid profile including cholesterol, fasting blood glucose and Framingham risk score to assess your potential cardiovascular risks. The screenings are available at The Emory Clinic, Building A, 1365 Clifton Road, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on an appointment-only basis.

Individuals wishing to take part in the scan:

• Should be 40 years of age or older (unless there is a family history of heart disease, diabetes or renal disease)
• Should not have coronary artery stents in place
• Should have no history of cardiac bypass surgery
• Should not be pregnant

“Individuals will have access to Emory’s new, state-of-the-art Siemens SOMATOM Definition CT scanner, which can provide one of the most detailed images of the heart available today,” says Arthur Stillman, MD, professor of radiology and the director of cardiothoracic imaging in the Emory University School of Medicine. “This technology allows the detection of coronary artery calcium, an accurate marker of coronary disease.”

Emory is the first in Georgia, and one of the only centers in the South, to offer this latest technology to its patients. The Definition CT uses two X-ray sources and two detectors to provide exceptional image quality and high acquisition speed in all patients. And there’s no need to slow the heart with medication – a step needed in previous scanning devices.

“A test as simple and as detailed as a CT scan is very helpful to assess risk of future cardiovascular events, not only in athletes, but anyone who is diligent about monitoring his or her overall health,” says Paolo Raggi, MD, professor of medicine in the Emory University School of Medicine.

At Emory, the place where heart specialists from around the world come to be trained, you’ll see a physician who not only understands the technology used to diagnose heart disease, but helped develop it. The doctors who wrote the guidelines for this test are part of the team that’s treating you.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 404-778-7777.