New technology and techniques for coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) has significantly reduced patient risk, according to a study presented last week at the annual conference for the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) in Denver, Colorado.
"Traditionally, pediatric patients who require coronary artery imaging have undergone a cardiac catheterization, which is an invasive procedure with a significant radiation dose, requiring sedation or anesthesia for all patients," explained B. Kelly Han, MD, a pediatric cardiologist at Minneapolis Heart Institute in Minnestoa.
"The newer CT scanners deliver far less radiation than both previous generation CT scanners and catheter-based angiography. Also, CTA is non-invasive and has different protocols that can be tailored to decrease the risk for each individual patient."
Han and colleagues conducted a retrospective review of all coronary CTAs performed on patients less than 18 years of age at Minneapolis Heart Institute from June 2007 through February 2011.
"We found that the newer imaging modes decrease the radiation dose between four-fold and seven-fold, without loss in diagnostic accuracy or image quality," Han said. "The estimated radiation dose reduction over traditional angiography is even greater.
“The aggressive use of beta-blockade to slow the heart rate, in combination with the newer scan modes allows for a very low radiation dose in this young patient population."
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