Multi-Slice Computed Tomography in the Assessment of the Coronary

Abstract

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the generic designation for a group of closely related clinical presentations, resulting from myocardial ischemia; an imbalance between the blood supply (perfusion) and demands of the myocardium for oxygenated blood. In most cases, the cause of myocardial ischemia is reduction blood supply because of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Multislice CT is a recent development in the spiral CT. The MSCT scanners are equipped with multiple and thinner detector rows, and has a faster tube rotation speed creating two major advantages; high spatial resolution and short acquisition time that enable high-quality examinations. It is only with this immense increase it the data acquisition volume per unit time, that CT assessment of the coronary arteries has become possible. High and consistent vascular enhancement within the vessel lumen is a prerequisite for successful CT angiography. Adequate enhancement is needed to visualize the vessel wall and the small side branches of the coronary tree. In addition, high and homogeneous enhancement serves as the basis for threshold-dependent three-dimensional (3D) visualization techniques. For CTCA, the chest is scanned from above the left main coronary artery to below the diaphragmatic surface of the heart. The appropriate beginning and ending positions are determined