What is the role of CT scanning of the heart?

Computed tomography of the heart and great vessels is a promising new imaging technique whose full potential is as yet undefined. The clinical conditions in which it has been used, as outlined in this report, indicate it offers great promise. The ability of the computer to rearrange transverse scan data into parasagittal, coronal, and oblique planes gives a new (third) dimension to cardiac imaging. This display format should greatly enhance the clinician's understanding of the spatial configuration of normal and diseased hearts. Dynamic scanning with contrast enhancement by bolus injection permits, in addition to anatomic definition of pathology, further information about cardiac dynamics. Faster CT scanners are already under development. Scanning speeds of 20 to 25 msec. are a realistic possibility. Also, future scanners will have multiple simultaneous slice capability. These technical advances will certainly enhance the clinical utility of CT for evaluating cardiovascular disease. The future of cardiac imaging is, indeed, bright and exciting.