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Old 8th Dec 2017, 01:04
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421dog
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: USA
Age: 59
Posts: 395
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A CT coronary angiogram does a good job of quantifying the amount of calcium present in your coronary vessels, but is no where near as good as traditional cardiac catheterization in terms of identifying (and allowing for treatment of) actual lesions.

There is an order of magnitude (at least) less radiation associated with a Gated Coronary CT than there is with the fluoroscopy required for an angiogram, even without intervention.

The quoted risk associated with a ct of that sort is something like a 0.05-0.1% increased lifetime risk of a malignancy (the baseline risk is on the order of 30% of ever getting cancer, so even at the high end, the CT would put you at 30.1% which ain't bad odds)

Some form of stress test (Bruce protocol, or some form of chemical stress test with a radioisotope or ultrasonic imaging) is a much better and safer screening tool in most circumstances.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Last edited by 421dog; 9th Dec 2017 at 00:12.
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