Next up: the CT scan.
And now, Interventional Radiologists at Holy Cross Hospital have a new weapon in their medical arsenal computed tomography angiography (CTA) an examination that uses x-rays to visualize blood flow in arterial vessels throughout the body, from arteries serving the brain to those bringing blood to the lungs, kidneys, and arms and legs.
With the acquisition of a 16-slice multi-detector CT scanner and 3-dimensional work station dedicated to the process, Holy Cross has the components to give patients the best results. But, cautions Ana Echenique. MD, thats just the start.
“As with anything in radiology, acquiring the image is half the battle,” she said. “You need someone very experienced with image interpretation to get accurate readings of the data. You can have the latest technology, but you still require very experienced people to look at data and give you a meaningful interpretation.” Which is precisely what Dr. Echenique and her colleagues with Holy Cross in-house Radiology Team, South Florida Medical Imaging, P.A. provide.
Senior Technologists Mark Forinash, Carol Cheyne and Christine Petrakis with the 16 slice CT scanner.
Compared to catheter angiography, which involves placing a catheter and injecting contrast material into an artery, CTA is a much less invasive and more patient-friendly procedure contrast material is injected into a peripheral vein rather than an artery. This exam has been used to screen large numbers of individuals for arterial disease. Most patients have CT angiography without being admitted to a hospital. “Once we give the contrast, we rapidly scan to catch the contrast while it is in the arterial phase before it dissipates,” Echenique said. “We are able to examine the entire bodys arterial system.”
CTA is an effective treatment modality for patients that might have Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms or Peripheral Vascular Disease. CT combines the use of x-rays with computerized analysis of the images. Beams of x-rays are passed from a rotating device through the area of interest in the patient’s body from several different angles so as to create cross-sectional images, which then are assembled by computer into a three-dimensional picture of the area being studied.
“The advantage of CTA is that you get to look at the inside and outside of the vessel,” Dr. Echenique said. “You may see a renal tumor. If you wanted to look at the abdominal aorta, the CT scan looks at all organs You get a lot more information; a lot more bang for your buck.”
