Tag Archives: radiation

MDCT coronary angiography (CTCA) has been shown to be highly accurate at detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) with more than 30 studies and several meta-analyses confirming excellent sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV), when compared with invasive X-ray coronary angiography.1 This was confirmed in three multi-centre trials: Assessment by Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography of Individuals Undergoing Invasive Coronary Angiography (ACCURACY) (n=230), Coronary Artery Evaluation Using 64-Row Multi-detector Computed Tomography Angiography (CORE-64) (n=291), and Meijboom et al. (n=360)2-4 (table 1). The positive predictive value

ARBITER 6: niacin superior to ezetimibe for slowing atherosclerosis Use of extended-release niacin resulted in a significant benefit on atherosclerosis compared with ezetimibe in patients already taking statins in the ARBITER 6-HALTS trial. The trial, presented at the meeting by Dr Allen Taylor (Medstar Research Institute, Washington DC, US), compared two distinct lipid-modifying strategies in patients with known vascular disease already on statins who had LDL-cholesterol levels <100 mg/dL (2.56 mmol/L) and moderately low HDL-cholesterol levels (<50 mg/dL [1.28 mmol/L]). Among the 363 patients enrolled in the study, half were randomised

Introduction Several imaging modalities are available for the optimal management of patients with cardiovascular disease. When assessing any imaging technique, the radiation dose must be considered along with the value of the imaging technique. Coronary artery evaluation using multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) was introduced recently, and this imaging modality is expected by some to become a major new player in the field of cardiac imaging. We hereby summarise the radiation doses associated with MSCT and other currently available cardiovascular imaging techniques. Ionising radiation in medicine The benefit to patients from the medical us