Medical imaging has been in the forefront of medical intervention for decades.From the invention of the X-Ray machine to the development of MRI and CT scanning, physicians around the world have been able to take advantage of technology to identify and treat many ailments that afflict millions of people.
Until now, medical imaging was limited by the “after the fact” findings, where the disease process was already established and was affecting the individual. Take for example the coronary angiogram, or cardiac catheterization. Both are great technologies, but useful to treat established coronary artery disease.
Over the past few decades, advancements in imaging technology are allowing doctors to now identify early disease processes, before they afflict individuals. Two examples include the Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Scan and the Carotid Intima-Media Thickness test.
The former, a simple CT scan of the heart, is non-invasive and takes about 10 minutes to complete. In the appropriate population, that which is pre-identified by your physician as having a moderate risk of incurring cardiovascular disease, this simple test can be a life saver. It measures any amount of calcification, if present, in your heart arteries. Depending on the amount of calcium found, your risk for a future heart attack can be derived. A score of 0 is desirable as your risk is negligible, while a score greater than 100 implies a higher risk. Anyone with a score of 400 or more will require further testing as the risk is the greatest.
CAC testing allows your physician to institute therapy that can prevent a heart attack and that under traditional monitoring, may not be given. There are plenty of clinical studies published demonstrating that a coronary artery calcium scan is of great advantage in predicting heart attacks, over simple modalities like cholesterol tests. The CAC test is highly recommended.
Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) is an ultrasound test that measures the thickness of a layer of the carotid arteries (in your neck). In this test, a technician will image a section of the carotid arteries. These are the main conduits of blood flow to your brain. The test looks for any increase in thickness of 2 layers of this artery, the media and intima. Increase in thickness implies that there is significant build-up of plaque not only in the carotid artery but in the arteries that provide blood flow to the heart or the coronary arteries. The test takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and can be done in a physician’s office.
Both tests are recommended in men over age 45 and women over 55.
If there is a strong family history of heart attacks and/or strokes, or if you have other risk factors like obesity, diabetes, or are a smoker, then it is recommended at age 40 and 50 respectively.
In summary, CAC and CIMT are proven imaging technologies that can predict and detect early cardiovascular disease, a process that can save your life.
