CT Scans v. Angiograms

In a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, doctors from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland found that the newer CT scans were less accurate than the older angiogram method for finding blockages in blood vessels. The CT scan yields 3-D images of the heart through multiple X-rays in order to see if people with chest pains have a blockage. However, the scans are relatively new and are not necessarily beneficial to the patient. In fact, CT scans, also known as multi-detector computed tomographic andiography, expose patients to significant levels of radiation, which may cause other health problems down the road. One positive aspect of the CT scan is that it is less invasive than the traditional angiogram, in which a tube is inserted into an artery traveling from the leg up to the heart, releasing a dye that illuminates blockages when X-rayed. Still, the scan does require several X-rays to create the 3-D image of the heart, increasing the patient’s exposure to radiation.

The study included 291 patients that had an angiogram, in addition to a CT scan. What doctors at Johns Hopkins found was that the CT scan produced more false negatives for blockages and was less accurate overall when compared to the angiogram results. Another negative is that in some cases, patients that receive a CT scan also require an angiogram to get additional information, which can create a cost issue, with each CT scan costing roughly $700 and each angiogram costing about $1500. Still, some doctors that support the CT scan say that it is useful in figuring out which patients will need additional treatment for their heart, without any invasive tests.

Patients are urged to talk to their doctors in detail about both procedures before deciding which is right for them. With any new test or procedure, it is possible that a doctor will encounter more problems than with one they have performed many times. If you or a loved one has questions regarding surgical, procedural or other hospital mistakes, please contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos. We serve clients with Nassau and Suffolk County medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Bronx medical malpractice and Queens medical malpractice cases, as well as clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net