Coronary artery scanning using electron beam computed tomography.

Coronary artery scanning using electron beam computed tomography is a diagnostic tool with application to high-risk and symptomatic subjects that can assist in diagnosing or excluding coronary artery disease. Although there is ample evidence for the utility of this and related technologies for diagnosis in symptomatic subjects, this remains an unproven technology for screening healthy asymptomatic subjects. Because of its potential in this regard, further research should be encouraged to determine its place in the armamentarium of diagnostic tools. In contrast to its unproven utility for screening asymptomatic populations, electron beam computed tomographic coronary calcium has shown fairly accurate association with coronary angiographic findings in symptomatic patients referred for angiography for chest pain syndromes.