MDCT Cardiac Imaging: A Comprehensive Overview

Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is a diagnostic tool used to produce images and detect issues within the heart. The test, a type of X-ray, is performed in hospitals, clinics or other diagnostic settings by trained medical staff.

Specifics

• An MDCT is different than the more common CT scan because it uses a fast scanner. The heart is a muscle that is constantly in rapid motion, so the MDCT is designed to capture clear pictures of the structures of the heart.

Procedure

• A MDCT scan is painless. During the procedure the patient lies on a table while a scanner rotates around her body. MDCT in cardiac imaging is less invasive than conventional angiography and results in fewer complications in patients undergoing cardiac procedures. For this reason, diagnosticians may prefer to order an MDCT scan prior to surgery.

Improvements

• As new technology develops, the quality of scans produced by MDCT scanners improves. For example, a process called prior image constrained compressed sensing (PICCS) has been used in MDCT scans to double the resolution of images created.