CT technologist Dan Harrington monitors a patient getting a coronary CT angiogram. The procedure takes only seconds on Holland Hospital's state-of-the-art Lightspeed® VCT scanner.

Coronary CT Angiography is a new procedure at Holland Hospital that allows cardiologists and radiologists to look inside your heart vessels without having to go inside your heart. Cardiologist Lynn Cronin, MD, explains the benefits of this groundbreaking procedure, and who should get it.

Q. WHAT IS CORONARY CT ANGIOGRAPHY (CCTA)?

A. CCTA is a noninvasive (no catheters required) means of looking at the coronary arteries, the aorta, the pulmonary arteries and most of the other heart structures using a very fast CT scanner. The fact that the heart is constantly moving has made visualizing it difficult until now, and cardiologists could only view it by performing a heart catheterization, in which catheters are placed directly in the heart to inject dye into the coronaries. Today's advanced technology (Holland Hospital’s 64-slice CT scanner) allows us to take pictures very quickly of a "moving target." In six seconds, the CT scanner takes thousands of continuous pictures of your heart, and a powerful computer then "reconstructs" the images so that the physician can see if you have a blockage of an artery that may lead to a heart attack.

Q. WHO SHOULD GET IT?

A. The most logical use for this test is in people who are suspected of having coronary blockages, abnormal coronary arteries, or unexplained heart failure or other cardiac symptoms. It is promising as a "first line" diagnostic tool, but right now is most often used to follow up on a patient who has had an abnormal or "questionable" stress test. Its use in the Emergency Room setting for people presenting with chest pain is extremely promising: In less than five minutes we can determine if coronary blockages are present, often sparing people an overnight stay in the hospital.

Q. WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

A. A cardiologist and radiologist consult to create your "report," which is sent to your physician. Depending on the results, further testing (stress tests, cardiac catheterization, etc.) is sometimes recommended. Often a mildly abnormal test serves as a "wake-up call" and a means of detecting early disease, which can be treated with lifestyle changes and medications.

Q. IS THE CCTA COVERED BY INSURANCE? HOW DO I SCHEDULE IT?

A. The full cost of a CCTA is $1,250. This is covered, if appropriateness criteria are met, by many insurance providers, including Priority, Medicare and United Health Care. BCBS does not currently reimburse for this test. Your personal physician can schedule your CCTA; however, insurance companies often require that you first consult with a cardiologist, who will schedule the exam. Please consult your doctor for more information.

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