The ultra-fast capability of the Toshiba Aquilion has enabled Alaska Open Imaging Center to be the first imaging facility in Alaska to perform Cardiac Scoring. This coronary artery screening is used to check for heart disease in an early stage and to determine how severe it is by using sophisticated computer reconstruction to clearly show an image of your heart and measure the amount of potentially harmful calcifications in your coronary arteries.

What can I expect?
The test itself is completely painless with very little radiation exposure. You will be asked to lie quietly on the CT scanners “patient couch” during the study.

Some CT studies may require the use of a contrast material such as barium, which the patient usually drinks, or by injection of a contrast agent through an IV. As some contrast agents may contain substances such as iodine, which can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals, be sure to tell the technologist, nurse or radiologist if you have had an allergic reaction to these agents before, or if you have any other allergies. You may have been given contrast material earlier as part of a CT scan, a kidney x-ray (also called an IVP), or a heart or blood vessel catheterization (also called an angiogram). We use nonionic contrast exclusively which is lessens the risk to patients.