HeartScan
International
is one of the very few diagnostic centers in the world using the
ultrafast, low radiation
e-Speed EBCT scanner for
cardiac and body imaging.
At the blazing speed of 30 images per second, the
e-Speed is undoubtedly
the world's fastest CT
scanner.
e-Speed
has a
true scan speed of 33 msec per slice which is
10 times faster
than the true scan speed of the latest 256 slice CT (500 msec) and still
5 times faster than the latest dual source CT (166 msec). This
speed advantage ensures consistent and accurate imaging of the beating
heart without the need for medications to slow down the heart beat.
A diagnostic image set is obtained in every patient even when the heart
beat is 140 beats/min or when it is irregular such as in atrial
fibrillation. In the case of 64 slice CT , due to its slower
scan speed, it is necessary to slow down the patient's heart rate to
below 60 beats per minute before a proper scan can be performed.
This is achieved by administering high dose beta blockers which is time
consuming and which can be dangerous in patients with weak hearts.
Radiation
dosage is another important issue. It would be
counterproductive to undergo a diagnostic scan only to have one's cancer
risk increased by the test itself. The e-Speed delivers
10 times
lower X -ray radiation dose
compared to 64 slice CT. With the advent of 128 or 256 slice CT
scanners, the amount of cancer causing radiation given to the
patient is even much higher. It is unethical to subject a patient to
unnecessary radiation when the same accurate test can be performed with
a scanner which gives much lower radiation.
EBCT is still the gold
standard for coronary artery calcium scanning. Almost all
scientific validation and clinical studies to date on coronary artery
calcium scanning have been performed using EBCT and these results do not
necessarily apply to multislice CT which is a different technology. It
is possible to perform coronary artery calcium scanning with 64 slice CT
but it is necessary to give beta blockers to slow down the heart to
below 60 beats per minute before the scan is performed in order to
obtain an accurate score. Many 64 slice CT diagnostic centers take a
short cut and do not observe this technical requirement.
Electron Beam
Angiogram using e-Speed is an
easy and accurate way to check
your heart for blockages even when the heart disease is at an early
stage. e-Speed can image the heart in colour 3D without
catheterization or hospital admission. No premedication is
required. The procedure is quick (taking only 20 minutes),
painless, and with minimal risk. You can view your heart on the
spot.
