The MetroHealth Heart and Vascular Center and Department of Radiology are pleased to announce the establishment of the Advanced Cardiac Imaging Center at MetroHealth Medical Center.

MetroHealth was the first hospital in the world to install the Phillips Brilliance iCT scanner in 2007. The Phillips Brilliance iCT 256 slice scanner makes use of faster gantry rotation speed and shorter acquisition time to allow for more consistent, motion-free imaging of the coronary arteries. Dose modulation and ‘Step & Shoot' options on our 256 slice scanner allow for reduced radiation exposure for patients.

Benefits of Coronary CT Angiography (CTA) include:

• Accurate non-invasive evaluation of CAD
• High negative predictive value (a patient with a negative CT angiogram has a very low risk of having significant CAD)
• Evaluation of vascular structures, carotid disease, renal and peripheral arterial stenosis, and aortic aneurysms
• Useful in guiding radiofrequency ablations and placement of biventricular pacemakers
• Rapid exclusion of coronary disease in patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain but low to intermediate likelihood of CAD

Coronary CT Indications: 

1) Evaluation of chest pain syndrome in patients with an Intermediate pre-test probability of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and an uninterpretable ECG, or who have had an uninterpretable or equivocal stress test (exercise, perfusion or stress echo)*

2) Evaluation of suspected coronary anomalies*

3) Evaluation of acute chest pain in patients with an Intermediate pre-test probability of CAD and no ECG changes and serial enzymes negative*

4) Assessment of complex congenital heart disease including anomalies of coronary circulation, great vessels, and cardiac chambers and valves*

5) Evaluation of coronary arteries in patients with new onset heart failure to assess etiology

6) Evaluation of cardiac mass (suspected tumor or thrombus) 

7) Patients with technically limited images on transthoracic echo, transesophageal echo, or MRI* 

8) Evaluation of Pulmonary vein anatomy prior to invasive Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for atrial fibrillation*

9) Noninvasive coronary vein mapping prior to biventricular pacemaker*

10) Noninvasive coronary arterial mapping including Left Internal Mammary Artery (LIMA) prior to repeat Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery 

11) Evaluation of suspected aortic dissection or thoracic aortic aneurysm*  

12) Evaluation of pericardial conditions (mass/constrictive pericarditis/complications of cardiac surgery)* 

*Diagnoses currently accepted by most insurance.

To schedule a Cardiac CT Angiogram for your patient, call 216-778-3221 or 778-BEAT (2327).

For questions regarding Coronary CTA, call 216-778-BEAT (2327) or 216-778-2431 and ask for Dr. Karen Kutoloski.