HIGH RADIATION EXPOSURE AND CANCER RISK WITH 64-SLICE CORONARY CTA: TIME TO REVIEW PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA AND STANDARDIZATION OF IMAGING PROTOCOLS

Abstract

The advent of computed tomography (CT) has revolutionized diagnostic radiology. Since the inception of CT in the 1970s, its use has increased rapidly. It is estimated that more than 62 million CT scans per year are currently obtained in the United States, including at least 4 million for children.1 Current generation multi slice CT (MSCT) like 64-slice machine (able to scan 64 images per rotation), is characterized by its superb spatial and temporal resolution. Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) has emerged as a useful diagnostic method for assessment of coronary stenosis, calcified and non calcified plaques and also for evaluation of patients with chest pain in emergency room. However, potential advantages of CCTA over traditional methods have to be weighed against the radiation exposure of CCTA and the small but potential risk of cancer.