BAYLOR HAMILTON HOSPITAL GETS NEW UNTRAFAST CT SCANNER.

Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital, Dallas, has acquired new CT scanning technology, allowing physicians to detect blockages in heart arteries before symptoms develop. The unique feature of this CT scanner is its ability to perform non-invasive coronary angiogram imaging, potentially replacing the more invasive angiogram performed in the cath lab. The new ultrafast CT scanning technology at Baylor Hamilton has the potential to change the way heart disease is diagnosed.

Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital is one of the nation's first 16-slice CT coronary angiography centers in the nation. The new scanner allows physicians to acquire a non-invasive coronary angiogram in 30 seconds as a brief outpatient procedure. A coronary angiogram takes pictures of the blood flow within the arteries after a dye is injected to make the blood vessels more visible. Instead of one CT scan image being generated at a time, 16 separate pictures or "slices" are produced with one revolution of the camera. The resolution and definition of the CT scan is so fine that blockages or plaques can be visualized just as in a coronary angiogram. In many cases, the actual composition of the plaque can be identified. Comparatively, in a traditional, invasive coronary angiogram and cardiac catheterization, a catheter is inserted into the patient's arm or leg and threaded toward the heart. Although effective for scanning other parts of the body, previous generations of CT scanners were not fast enough to capture a clear image of the heart in motion nor did they have the precise resolution needed for imaging the tiny arteries.

"With this new CT scanner, Baylor can offer many patients a considerably quicker, less risky and less expensive way to obtain images of the heart and arteries. For many people with heart disease risk factors, CT angiography may be an alternative to a traditional, invasive angiogram," said Robert Rosenthal, M.D., cardiologist on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center and Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital. Dee Dockery, M.D., a cardiovascular radiologist on medical staff at Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital added, "The feasibility of noninvasive coronary artery imaging opens up the possibility of imaging patients earlier in the course of coronary artery disease, when their condition may be more treatable."

The CT Scanner also performs calcium scoring allowing physicians to detect calcium buildup indicating blockages of the heart arteries. A high calcium score is a good indicator of the level of risk of heart disease.

"The higher the calcium score, the greater the chance you have coronary artery disease," explains Kevin Wheelan, M.D., co-chief of cardiology on medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center and Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital. "Those with a high calcium score could benefit from aggressive preventive treatments to stop the development of heart disease," said Wheelan.

Research suggests that calcium scoring may be significantly better than conventional stress testing for determining heart disease risk. "Calcium scoring or an ultrafast scan is not an end-all in itself, but part of an overall management strategy to prevent or detect and manage heart disease," adds Dr. Wheelan. "This test should not be a routine annual screening. But for a person who has risk factors, this is a good, non-invasive way of screening for heart disease. The new technology complements Baylor's philosophies of providing ongoing care for patients."

Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital opened in 2002 and is the only North Texas hospital dedicated solely to the care and treatment of heart and vascular patients. It is one of the few free-standing heart hospitals in the country and is located on the campus of Baylor University Medical Center. Baylor University Medical Center is nationally recognized as one of the top heart care centers in the United States, as well as the leader in cardiovascular services in North Texas.

Opened in 1903, Baylor University Medical Center, flagship of Baylor Health Care System, is a major patient care, teaching and research center for the Southwest and one of the largest medical centers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. It operates as one of the nation's largest not-for-profit medical centers, caring for more than 300,000 people a year. Baylor is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2003.

For more information about Baylor Health Care System, visit http://www.BaylorHealth.com or call 214/820-4827.