CCTA: Cost-effective, noninvasive alternative to invasive cardiac catheterization for the evaluation of significant CAD
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - 11:21
in Health & Medicine
Non-invasive coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) is a cost-effective alternative to invasive cardiac catheterization in the care of patients who have positive stress test results but a less than 50 percent chance of actually having significant coronary artery disease (CAD), according to a study in the May issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology. CAD is a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. If left untreated, it can lead to a heart attack.