Contraindications for CT scan of heart are few but important. Leading CT and MRI specialist from Boston discusses absolute and relative contraindications to CT imaging of the heart. When CT scan of the heart is not necessary before proceeding to coronary angiography? How patient's demographic profile can be a relative contraindication for heart CT scan?

Contraindications for CT scan of heart. Video interview with leading expert in radiology, CT and MRI specialist. Preparing for a CT Scan can create anxiety. When you cannot do CT scan? Dr. Anton Titov, MD. When you should not do CT scan of the heart? Dr. Anton Titov, MD. Contraindications to Cardiac CT Angiography are few. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. Allergy to intravenous contrast dye is one contraindication for CT with contrast. Medical Second Opinion confirms that CT findings and MRI findings are correct and meaningful. Dr. Kent Yucel, MD. Medical Second Opinion also helps to choose the best treatment strategy for cancer and heart disease. Seek medical Second Opinion on cancer and heart disease and be confident that your treatment is the best. Indications and contraindications of X-Ray and CT scan include pregnancy, young age unless it CT scan is critical for diagnosis. Computed tomography of the heart has similar contraindications to cardiac catheterization. Your doctor should know cardiac CT indications and limitations. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. Cardiac CT is probably not indicated in patients with strong symptoms of coronary artery disease. Dr. Kent Yucel, MD. Because they will need catheterization of the heart and angioplasty anyway. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. Every study has absolute or relative contraindications or certain conditions when its use may be suboptimal for certain patients. So for cardiac CT and MRI, or MRI. What are absolute or relative contraindications for use of this technology for the patients? Dr. Anton Titov, MD. Dr. Kent Yucel, MD. CT scan first. The only real contraindication to CT scan. It is "cat scan", computed tomography scan. This is when patients are allergic to X-ray dye or X-ray contrast. It is a dye that is injected intravenously in certain but not all types of CT scans. The problem is that to get a cardiac catheterization you need an X-ray dye also (X-ray contrast), so the same contraindication with hold. That is still a risk if they are allergic to dye, we can give certain medications to them that reduce the risk of allergic reactions. That is the primary contraindication to CT scanning. The other area where doing CT scan probably not that helpful is in patients who have had coronary stents before because they are not as well seen on CT scan as normal coronary arteries. Coronary arteries with stents inside are harder to evaluate. Another area where CT is probably not indicated is in patients who have classic symptoms of coronary artery disease. Because they are probably going to need cardiac catheterization anyway. So doing a CT scan "cat scan" before they have cardiac catheterization "cath" in medical slang doesn't add anything, because they are presenting with classic symptoms especially if they are older men because older patients, especially older men have a lot of calcification in their arteries, calcium buildup and calcium buildup, like stents, makes it harder for CT to see the arteries. Dr. Kent Yucel, MD. So that is main reasons for CT scan contraindications. Patients with allergies to X-ray dye, certainly are relative contraindication - they have some additional risk. But the real issue with CT scan of the heart is picking the right population in whom, depending on the result of the CT scan "cat scan" you may not need anything else. So many patients who could benefit from cardiac CT scan are patients who are going to need a cardiac catheterization "cath" anyway probably shouldn't have a CT scan beforehand. Contraindications for CT scan of heart. Dr. Kent Yucel, MD. Video interview with leading expert in radiology, CT and MRI specialist. Classic coronary disease - do a CT Angiography? Dr. Anton Titov, MD.